Opportunity to Review Polling Division Approach & Revised CEO Directive
Opportunity to Review Polling Division Approach
Next year’s general election will look different in many ways from similar events in the province’s history. This is partly due to new constituency boundaries but also due to the implementation of a number of CEO Directives introducing modernization across the election system. While these CEO Directives are still awaiting final approval from the Board of Internal Economy, we have been moving in the direction of constituencies which have fewer, larger, polling divisions.
In urban constituencies featuring electronic poll book technology, there will be around 5 polling divisions per constituency, meaning roughly five voting locations (please note that each voting location will have more than one voting station to serve voters). Rural constituencies (which will not have electronic poll book technology) will have polling divisions based on voter population, meaning proximity to a voting location is a primary factor in how many polling divisions have been proposed.
While these polling divisions and voting locations are all still in draft form, I would like to extend an invitation to have you, as Chief Official Agent of your party, visit our offices the week of December 11 to discuss our approach to polling divisions and offer comments. If you are interested in this opportunity, please email my assistant, Maria Galati, at [email protected] with a few times that would work for you between December 11 and December 14. We will work to find a time that accommodates you.
Revised CEO Directive
Yesterday, at the request of the Government House Leader, I submitted a revised CEO Directive making changes to CEO Directive 2023-010 Polling Period. The amended Directive, which the Board will consider alongside the original one, changed the hours of voting on the last day of voting to the “traditional” hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. as opposed to my suggested hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (which would be consistent across all days of voting).
I have attached the revised CEO Directive along with the cover letter I submitted to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. My letter offers additional rationale for why I believe consistent hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on all days of voting would be better for voters, workers, and political stakeholders.
By-Election Returns
Two points on election expense returns related to the three by-elections that were held on August 10, 2023.
First, candidate returns have been posted with a status of “as filed” on our website – https://www.elections.sk.ca/reports-data/candidate-political-party-finances/candidate-returns/.
And second, by-election party returns are due on Monday, February 12. If you have questions about this process, I would strongly encourage you to reach out to Aaron Thompson, Director of Finance, at [email protected]. He would be more than happy to assist you and to answer your questions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Boda
Chief Electoral Officer
Province of Saskatchewan