Election Procedures for Municipalities

It doesn't matter how you vote, the important thing is that you vote

Revised January 2018

Elections in Resort Villages
 
The next municipal elections for mayor and councillors in Resort Villages will take place on Saturday, July 25, 2020. 

It is important to become involved in your community's affairs and exercise your democratic right to choose the leaders of your community.

Resort Village councils are elected for 4-year terms commencing with the first meeting following the election.  Council consists of an elected mayor and a minimum of two councillors. Municipalities may increase or decrease the size of its council by passing a bylaw to do so, at least 180 days before the general election. 

Nomination Day

The nomination period begins when the returning officer publishes and posts the call for nominations (on or before June 8, 2020).  Nominations may be filed any time during regular office hours from the time the call for nominations is posted until the deadline of 2:00 pm on Nomination Day which is June 20, 2020.  If a further call for nominations is required as a result of insufficient candidates, the second nomination period expires on July 4, 2020.

Who Can Run?

Candidates for Resort Village Council must be:

• at least 18 years old on Election Day;
• a Canadian citizen; and
• one of the following:

a) a resident of the resort village for at least 3 consecutive months immediately preceding the date nomination papers are filed and a resident of Saskatchewan for at least 6 months immediately preceding the date nomination  papers are filed; or
b) an owner or lessee of  assessable land in the resort village for at least 3 consecutive months immediately preceding the date the nomination paper is submitted and have resided in Saskatchewan for at least 6 consecutive months immediately preceding the date on which nomination papers are submitted; or
c) the spouse of a person mentioned in (a) or (b) above.

At least five voters of the municipality must sign a candidate's nomination paper.  If the municipality has passed a bylaw requiring candidates to submit a criminal record check, it must accompany the nomination paper.  Nomination papers must be complete and include the candidate's signed acceptance.

Who Can Vote?

Eligible voters must be:

• at least 18 years old;
• a Canadian citizen;
• and qualify as one of the following:

a) a resident of the resort village for at least 3 consecutive months immediately preceding election day; or
b) an owner of assessable land in the resort village for at least 3 consecutive months immediately preceding election day; or
c) a lessee of land in the resort village for at least 3 consecutive months immediately preceding election day; or
d) the spouse of a person mentioned in (a) (b) or (c) above.

How to Vote

Eligible voters can vote at the polling station set up for their municipality.  Voters can check the Notice of Poll for the location of their polling place.  Resort Villages have to option to establish a polling place resort village.  The polling station is open from 9:00 am until 8:00 pm.

Instructions on how to vote will be posted at the polling station.  If you need help, the Deputy Returning Officer who gives you your ballot will assist you. 

Resort villages may make special provisions to accommodate voters with limited mobility by providing mobile polls and curbside voting.  Information on these methods of voting is available from the Returning Officer.

At the polling station, the names of the candidates for mayor and councillors are listed on the ballots for each office.  Generally, the names will be alphabetical although Council may have earlier provided for random or rotational order.  The candidate's occupation, if any, is printed beneath the candidate's name.

You may vote for only one candidate for mayor, and no more than the stated number of councillors, by making a distinct "X" in the space beside the candidate's name.  The ballot is secret.

Advance Poll

One or more advance polls may operate during the weeks immediately before Election Day.  

Advance Poll voting is conducted in the same manner as a regular poll.  The locations and hours of all Advance Polls are listed on the Notice of Advance Poll, advertised in your municipality.  This information is also available from the Returning Officer.   

Revised January 2018

On October 24, 2018, municipal elections will be held for councillors representing even-numbered divisions in rural municipalities.

Term of Office
The term of office for all members of council is four years, which typically commences at the first meeting following the election. If your municipality is holding a by-election for a councillor representing an even-numbered division, their term of office will end at the first meeting following the general election in October 2018.

Nomination Day
The nomination period begins when the returning officer publishes and posts the call for nominations (on or before September 4, 2018). Nominations may be filed any time during regular office hours from the time the call for nominations is posted until the deadline of 4:00 p.m. on Nomination Day, which is Wednesday, September 19, 2018. If a further call for nominations is required as a result of insufficient candidates, the second nomination period expires on October 3, 2018.

Who can be Nominated?
You are eligible for nomination as a candidate for municipal office if you are:

1. at least 18 years old on Election Day;
2. a Canadian citizen;
3. eligible to vote in the rural municipality; and
4. a resident of Saskatchewan

You require at least two voters to sign your candidate's nomination paper. If you are seeking nomination as the reeve, the nominators may be any voter in the rural municipality. If you are running as a councillor, the nominators must be eligible to vote in the division you wish to represent.
If your municipality has passed a bylaw requiring candidates to submit a criminal record check, it must be filed with the nomination paper.

Your nomination paper must be duly completed, signed, and accompanied by the candidate's signed acceptance.

Election Day
Election Day is Wednesday, October 24, 2018.

Who Can Vote?
To be eligible to vote, you must:

• be at least 18 years old;
• be a Canadian citizen; and
• qualify as one of the following:
  1. a resident in the rural municipality for at least three consecutive months immediately preceding the day of the election;
  2. the registered owner (or purchaser under a bona fide agreement for sale) of land in the rural municipality;
  3. assessed with respect to land in the rural municipality under a lease, license, permit, or contract in agreement with the registered owner;
  4. assessed with respect to an improvement in the rural municipality;
  5. hold a permit in the rural municipality with respect to a trailer or mobile home;
  6. a spouse of a person mentioned in clause (b), (c), (d), or (e); or
  7. the chief executive officer of a duly incorporated co-operative, corporation or religious association that is assessed on the last revised assessment roll with respect to property in the rural municipality that is not exempt from taxation. 

 Reeves are elected at large by all voters, whereas councillors are elected only by voters qualifying to vote in that division. Your property tax notice contains information about the division in which you are entitled to vote.

How to Vote
Eligible voters can vote at the polling station set up in their municipality. The Notice of Vote includes details about the location of polling places. The polling station is open from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Voters are required to provide proof of identity. 

Instructions on how to vote are posted at the polling station. If you need help, the Deputy Returning Officer, who gives you your ballot paper, will assist you.
The ballot(s) provided to you by election officials list the names of candidates for each office alphabetically in the order of their surnames. The candidate's occupation may be printed beneath the candidate's name.

You may vote for only one candidate for reeve and/or for a councillor in the division you are entitled to vote in by making a distinct "X" in the space following a candidate's name. The ballot is secret.

Advance Poll
Your municipality may provide opportunities to vote at an Advance Poll. Council is required to provide the opportunity if at least five voters request the advance poll on or before September 24, 2018 (at least 30 days before Election Day).

Voting at an Advance Poll is conducted in the same manner as a regular poll. The locations and hours of all Advance Polls are listed on the Notice of Advance Poll, advertised in your municipality. This information is also available from the Returning Officer.

Voting by Mail
Your municipality may provide opportunities to vote by mail. Contact the municipal office to determine if this option is available. 

Cities, Town, Villages  [Excluding Resort Villages]

Revised January 2018

It doesn't matter how you vote, the important thing is that you vote

The next general election for urban municipalities (cities, towns, villages) will take place Wednesday October 28, 2020. 

It is important to become involved in your community's affairs and exercise your democratic right to choose the leaders of your community.

Nomination Day for cities, towns, and villages will be September 23, 2020.  At least 10 business days before Nomination Day, the Returning Officer will publish and post a Notice of Call for Nominations stating the vacancies to be filled by the election.    Urban municipal councils are elected for 4-year terms, commencing with the first meeting following the election.   Council's consist of an elected mayor and a certain number of councillors.  Generally, cities will have six to ten; towns will have six;  villages usually have two or four.  Municipalities may increase or decrease the size of its council by passing a bylaw at least 180 days before the general election. The lowest number of council members an urban municipality can have is a mayor and two councillors.  Municipalities that are divided into wards elect one council member for each ward.

Nomination Day

Nominations can then be filed at the municipal administration office any time during regular office hours and from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Nomination Day.

Who Can Run?

Persons eligible for nomination as a candidate in an urban municipality must:

• be at least 18 years old on Election Day;
• be a Canadian citizen;
• have resided in the municipality for at least 3 consecutive months immediately preceding the date nomination paper is submitted; and have resided in Saskatchewan for at least 6 consecutive months immediately preceding the date nomination paper is submitted.

Nomination papers must be signed by at least 5 voters of the municipality or ward (if applicable), in urban municipalities with a population of less than 20,000.  An urban municipality or ward with a population of 20,000 or more requires the signatures of at least 25 electors.

If your municipality has passed a bylaw requiring candidates to submit a criminal record check it must be filed with the nomination paper.

Who Can Vote?

Eligible voters must be:

• at least 18 years old on Election Day;
• a Canadian citizen;
• a resident of Saskatchewan for at least 6 consecutive months immediately preceding election day; and
• either:
• a) a resident of the municipality for at least 3 consecutive months immediately preceding the day of the election: or;
• b) an owner of assessable land for at least 3 consecutive months immediately preceding the day of the election.

How to Vote

Eligible voters can vote at the polling station set up in their municipality or ward (applicable).  Voters can check the Notice of Poll for the location of their polling place.  Polling stations are open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Instructions on how to vote are posted at all polling stations.  If you need help the Deputy Returning Officer who gives you the ballot will assist you. 

Urban municipalities may make special provisions to accommodate voters with limited mobility by providing mobile polls and curbside voting.  Information on these methods of voting is available from the Returning Officer.

The names of the candidates for mayor and councillors are listed on the ballots for each office.  Generally, the names will be alphabetical although Council may have earlier provided for random or rotational order.  The candidate's occupation, if any, is printed beneath the candidate's name.

You may vote for only one candidate for mayor, and no more than the stated number of councillors, by making a distinct "X" in the space beside the candidate's name.  The ballot is secret.

Advance Poll

One or more advance polls will operate during the weeks immediately before Election Day. 

Voting at Advance Polls is conducted in the same manner as at a regular poll. The locations and hours of all Advance Polls are listed on the Notice of Advance Poll, advertised in your municipality.  This information is also available from the Returning Officer.