September 7, 2017 – A total of 4,572 ballots have been counted tonight, comprising the preliminary voting results for the constituency of Saskatoon Fairview by-election. A final count that includes absentee ballots will occur on September 19.

Preliminary results can be found at: results.elections.sk.ca.

The 4,572 ballots came from a total of 55 ballot boxes that were opened and counted as part of the preliminary results. The 55 ballot boxes were comprised of:

  • 50 for regular polls on by-election day (11 different locations)
  • 3 for advance polls that were open August 31, September 1, 2, 3, and 5
  • 1 for a mobile poll (two personal care homes in the constituency)
  • 1 for a homebound poll (note 11 homebound ballots administered)

One additional poll for absentee votes will be added to the Final Count on September 19, for a total of 56 ballot boxes. A total of 22 absentee ballots were given out to eligible voters, and those ballots will be counted during the Final Count.

Prior to advance voting, there were 12,809 voters registered in Saskatoon Fairview. This number will increase slightly after today as eligible voters were permitted to register at the time of voting, during either advance voting or regular voting today.

Turnout of registered voters for the preliminary count in Saskatoon Fairview stands at 35.7 percent. By comparison, in Saskatoon Fairview during the 2016 General Election there were 12,247 registered voters, 6,131 total votes, for a 50.1 percent of registered voters who voted. Traditionally, by-elections have seen a lower turnout than in provincial general elections. In the March 2017 Saskatoon Meewasin by-election, turnout stood at 41.6 percent compared to 57.6 per cent during the April 2016 General Election.

“Saskatchewan has seen a trend toward lower turnout over the past number of electoral events—a concern that I have recently drawn attention to,” says Dr. Michael Boda, Chief Electoral Officer for the province. “What is particularly interesting in the Saskatoon Fairview by-election, however, is that turnout during advance voting continued to see a remarkable increase, reflecting a trend evidenced during the 2016 general election and the by-election in Saskatoon Meewasin. Voters who have traditionally voted on election day are increasingly taking advantage of early voting.”

Elections Saskatchewan is the province’s independent, impartial, professional election management body. Given a mandate from the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly, it organizes, manages and oversees provincial electoral events. Find information for voters, workers, media, candidates and parties at www.elections.sk.ca.

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For more information contact:

Tim Kydd
Senior Director, Outreach & Communications
Elections Saskatchewan
306.537.9211
[email protected]