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Learn about the voting process in Saskatchewan, including eligibility, registration, voting locations, marking a ballot, and advance voting options.
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Opening Discussion Have you ever voted for something before? How was the winner decided? Did you think the process was fair? Why or why not?
Who is responsible for running provincial elections in Saskatchewan? Elections Saskatchewan is the independent, non-partisan agency responsible for conducting Saskatchewan provincial elections.www.elections.sk.ca
When is the provincial election? • Saskatchewan has fixed-date election legislation and, as required by TheElection Act, a general election is to be held the first Monday of November in the fourth calendar year following the previous election. • The provincial election was postponed until the first Monday of the following April since the provincial election would have overlapped with the 2015 federal election campaign. • The 28th Saskatchewan provincial election will take place on April 4, 2016.
Who is eligible to vote? • You are qualified to vote in a Saskatchewan provincial election if: • You are 18 years of age or older, • You are a Canadian citizen, • You have lived in Saskatchewan for at least six months before the election is called.
How do I get registered to vote? • In order to cast a ballot in the election, you must be registeredto vote. • You can call Elections Saskatchewan orvisit www.elections.sk.ca to check, update or complete your registration. • You can also register at the voting place on election day or at your returning office in advance. • Once registered, your contact information will be added to the voters list.
Where do I vote? • If you are on the voters list, you will receive a Voter Information Card (VIC) in the mail that tells you when and where to vote. • Each constituency is divided into smaller areas called polling divisions (or voting areas). • Voters living within each polling division vote at a specific location for their area. • The voting location is called a voting place.
How does the voting process work? • When you arrive at your voting place, an election worker greets you and directs you to the right table. • At your table, show your ID and your name is crossed off the list. • An election worker hands you a ballot. • Go behind a voting screen, mark your ballot for one candidate and refold your ballot to keep it secret. • Return your ballot to the worker so they can verify it is an official ballot. They will direct you to which ballot box to use. • Put your ballot in the box.
How do I confirm my identity and address? • To vote, you need to prove your identity and address. You have three options: • Show one piece of government-issued ID with your photo, name and address. • Show two pieces of ID. Both pieces must have your name, and one must also have your address. • If you do not have sufficient ID, you can sign a declaration, and a registered voter from your constituency, such as a neighbour or roommate, may vouch for you.
How do I mark my ballot? • A ballot lists the names of the candidates running in your constituency and their party affiliation. • The voter must clearly mark the ballot with a single preference for it to be valid (e.g., checkmark, X, shading in). • Voting is done by secret ballot. No one except the voter knows the choice that was made.
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined Ballots • A rejected ballot isa ballot that cannot be counted because it was not properly marked. For example, if someone voted for more than one candidate. • A voter may also choose to use their vote to express their unhappiness with the options given. This is called a declined ballot. This is done by receiving a ballot, then giving the unmarked ballot back to the election worker. The voter states that they wish to decline to vote. • A spoiled ballot is one that was kept separate and never placed in the ballot box because a voter made a mistake when marking it or it was torn and exchanged for a new ballot.
What is advance voting? • Electors who are away, busy or unable to vote on election day have the option of advance voting. • Advance voting is held for five days at various locations during the week before election day.
Absentee Ballots • Any qualified voter who is unable to vote on election day or during advance voting can apply for an absentee ballot. • An absentee ballot differs from a regular ballot because it does not include candidate names. • The absentee voter is required to indicate their preference by writing the name or political affiliation of the candidate in the space provided.
Final Thoughts • Are you ready to vote? Why or why not? • What else do you want to know or research before making your decision? • How can you encourage eligible voters who you know to cast their ballot?
