Mail-in ballots needed to decide nine races in Sask. 2024 election

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In nine of Saskatchewan’s 61 constituencies, there exists a mathematical probability that mail-in ballots issued for the provincial election could decide the outcome.

That’s according to chief electoral officer for Elections Saskatchewan Michael Boda, who said Wednesday that teams will focus on counting the ballots for those constituencies first, as they exceed the current margin of victory.

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“If the margin of victory is smaller than those rejected and objected, then you end up having a recount,” he told Media in Regina. But candidates would have to make a request in order to trigger a recount.

A total of 32,476 vote-by-mail applications were received by Elections Saskatchewan. Boda estimated that the 20,417 mail-in ballots returned by the Oct. 26 deadline would be counted by Wednesday night, noting results can be found in real time on the Elections Saskatchewan website. The deadline for the remaining 12,059 mail-in ballots issued is Nov. 7, which is two days before the final count and could further impact outcomes.

As of noon Wednesday, the Saskatchewan Party was holding on to 34 seats, while the Saskatchewan NDP lead in 27. The constituencies in question are: Saskatoon southeast, Saskatoon Willow Grove, Regina Wascana Plains, Saskatoon silver spring, Saskatoon Westview, Saskatoon Chief Mistawasis, Prince Albert Northcote, Regina University and Regina Rochdale.

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As of deadline Wednesday, the Sask. Party was leading in Saskatoon Willowgrove and Prince Albert Northcote, the NDP was leading in the rest.

Boda said while there is a process for a recount, it’s a little more complicated in Saskatchewan because the candidates have to be the ones to request it. Recounts can occur if there is a tie or if the margin of victory (which is a variable between constituencies and is based on rejected ballots and the number of ballots that are objected to) meets certain conditions.

The 2024 general provincial election saw voter turnout at approximately 53 per cent, not including mail-in ballots. In 2020, according to the final count, 52.86 per cent of eligible voters showed up to cast a ballot. Boda anticipated that at the end of the count, participation could come in around 55 per cent or 56 per cent.

On the final day of voting Monday, it was nearly 40 minutes after polls closed before the first results came in and even longer for the first winners to be declared. While other provinces, like British Columbia and New Brunswick, have adopted electronic vote counting, Saskatchewan has not.

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“I simply make recommendations as the chief electoral officer, it is legislators who make those decisions,” said Boda, adding that he would reserve making any suggestions on Wednesday.

Once the final vote count occurs, the return of the writ will be sent to clerk of the legislative assembly, Iris Lang. It’s anticipated that will take place around Nov. 20.

Once that occurs, Lang can swear in the new and returning MLAs, as they cannot sit in the assembly until the ceremony takes place. As for when the first sitting or that ceremony will occur, that is yet to be determined because there is no parliamentary calendar set at this point. But a throne speech will need to occur and a new speaker must be selected.

There is an imperative for there to be a session this year, as any new bills would need to be introduced before Dec. 21 of they were to be passed in the spring.

alslloum@postmedia.com

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