Planning ramps up to protect voters and workers for Saskatchewan’s largest event

July 13, 2020 – The October 26, 2020 provincial election will be different than past electoral events in Saskatchewan. New processes and safety measures will be in place to protect voters, election workers and candidate representatives at the polls and returning offices.

A provincial general election is the biggest event Saskatchewan holds:

  • 815,189 registered voters (as of today)
  • 800,000 single-use pencils
  • 13,000+ election workers (needed for returning offices, head office support, and at polls for 5 days of advance voting and election day Oct. 26)
  • 3,150 polling stations across province
  • 1,700 unique poll locations across province
  • 61 returning offices

“In my recommendations to the Government of Saskatchewan in May 2020 I highlighted a main assumption that COVID-19 will be present and of concern to Saskatchewan’s electoral stakeholders at the time of the general election,” says Dr. Michael Boda, Chief Electoral Officer of Saskatchewan.

“For the past few months we’ve been consulting with external experts and researching the best practices for allowing voting to take place safely at polling locations around the province. Voting safely this election is our priority. With this in mind, we are in the process of having a large supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) available.”

Below are the PPE supplies and quantities that Elections SK is currently procuring. Note these may change as election planning continues:

  • 400,000 masks
  • 8,750 litres of hand sanitizer for use by election workers and voters
  • 8,500 litres of disinfectant
  • 6,360 boxes of gloves
  • 6,000 rolls of paper towel
  • 5,200 acrylic shields for use at polling locations

“At present, we are planning for all of our workers to wear masks and we will encourage all voters to wear one too,” says Dr. Boda. “Our view is that most people who choose to wear masks will have their own, but we will have an additional supply on hand for those who would like one. If a health order is issued this fall requiring all voters to wear a mask in a public place, we will reassess moving forward.”

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 the 2020 provincial election. 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]