Saskatchewan voters wanting to avoid visiting the polls in-person this fall can now start the vote by mail process.
Elections Saskatchewan has opened their two-step process in order for absentee voting to be counted in the October provincial election. Dr. Michael Boda, Chief Electoral Officer of Saskatchewan, says they’ve hired additional staff in anticipation of an increase in vote by mail applications.
“During these uncertain times, we want to make sure the public knows about this additional option for voting, particularly to those who feel there is a health risk.”
The online application is now active and applicants can upload a copy of their ID. The deadline to apply is October 15, but Boda encourages voters to start the process as soon as possible.
Voters can also apply by calling 1-877-958-8683 and requesting an application be sent to them by mail. The application can then be scanned and emailed to [email protected], mailed back physically or delivered in-person at the Elections Saskatchewan head office in Regina.
Once the application is approved, residents will be sent a voting kit through the mail which includes a ballot and a postage-paid envelope. Voting kits will be mailed out in late September. All vote by mail ballots must be returned to Elections Saskatchewan by noon on November 5th.
Vote by mail has been offered in previous elections. In 2016, 4,420 or around one per cent of voters cast their ballot by mail. Mail-in ballots are traditionally used by students studying outside of the province and snowbirds travelling ahead of the winter.
The Saskatchewan elections is scheduled for October 26th.