October 28, 2024. Since 8 p.m. this evening, 439,771 ballots from in person voting have been counted in the 2024 Provincial Election.
These ballots were cast at all voting locations around the province over the six days of Voting Week, as well as personal care facilities and homebound voting. This represents a turnout of 53 per cent so far of the 829,884 eligible voters in Saskatchewan. Voter turnout will increase as vote by mail, hospital and remand centre votes are counted.
“Tonight was the first of three counts, which is the normal practice in a Saskatchewan general election,” says Dr. Michael Boda, Chief Electoral Officer of Saskatchewan. “My Voting Week election officials were joined tonight by ballot counting teams in many constituencies to assist with counting all the ballots, a huge undertaking by hundreds of our workers following a long day of serving voters. I commend all of them for their effort and dedication throughout the day.”
Results from this First Preliminary Count can be found here: https://results.elections.sk.ca/.
“Our attention now shifts to the Second Preliminary Count that begins Wednesday morning. My election officials will count the vote by mail ballots that were returned to head office by October 26. These ballots will be counted centrally in Regina, same as the 2020 General Election.”
The third and final count will take place on Saturday, November 9, 12 days following the last day of voting as directed by legislation. The Final Count will be conducted at the returning offices and centrally in Regina. Returning offices will be verifying the numbers generated from the First Preliminary Count and will not be counting any additional ballots. The central count in Regina will include the vote by mail ballots received from October 27 until November 7, along with ballots from hospitals and remand facilities. A total of 32,476 vote by mail packages were mailed out.
“I can not stress enough that the results are not official until the Final Count is complete on November 9,” said Dr. Boda. “No candidate wins or loses on the First Preliminary Count. Outcomes can change, especially given the volume of vote by mail ballots.”
Second Preliminary Count Media Briefing & Photo Opportunity
10:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 30
Conexus Arts Centre, 200 Lakeshore Drive, Regina. Please use the Shumiatcher Entrance on the southwest corner.
Media are invited to attend the Second Preliminary Count for a brief photo and video opportunity. Dr. Boda will be available for interviews.
Updates of the Second Preliminary Count will be provided on October 30, and continued until the count is complete.
Elections Saskatchewan (ESK) is the province’s nonpartisan election management body and an independent office of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. ESK directs and supervises the administration of provincial electoral events including Saskatchewan’s next general election, to be held during Voting Week, October 22 to 28, 2024. Information for voters, workers, media, candidates, and parties at www.elections.sk.ca.
For more information contact:
Tim Kydd
Senior Director, Outreach & Communications
Elections Saskatchewan
306.537.9211
[email protected]