Election Procedures for Municipalities

Revised January 2018

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

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 p.m. 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.

Candidate Eligibility

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 three consecutive months immediately preceding the date nomination papers are filed and a resident of Saskatchewan for at least six 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 three consecutive months immediately preceding the date the nomination paper is submitted and have resided in Saskatchewan for at least six 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.

Voter Eligibility

Information about voter eligibility, how to vote, advance polls, the secrecy of the vote and regulations involving agents and candidates can be found under Voting in a Resort Village. This information is also found in the Election Guide for Municipalities.

Revised January 2018

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

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.

Candidate Eligibility

Candidates for rural municipal council are eligible for nomination if they 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

As well, candidates require at least two voters to sign their candidate's nomination paper. If they are seeking nomination as the reeve, the nominators may be any voter in the rural municipality. If the candidate is running as a councillor, the nominators must be eligible to vote in the division the candidate wishes to represent. 

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

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

Election Day

Election Day is Wednesday, October 24, 2018 to elect councillors representing even-numbered divisions in rural municipalities. 

The following election will be held Wednesday, October 28, 2020 to elect reeves and councillors representing odd-numbered divisions in rural municipalities.

Voter Eligibility

Information about voter eligibility, how to vote, advance polls, the secrecy of the vote and regulations involving agents and candidates can be found under Voting in a Rural Municipality. This information is also found in the Election Guide for Municipalities.

Revised January 2018

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

Term of Office

Urban municipal councils are elected for four-year terms, starting with the first meeting following the election.

Urban councils 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

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

Candidate Eligibility

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 three consecutive months immediately preceding the date nomination paper is submitted; and have resided in Saskatchewan for at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the date nomination paper is submitted.

Nomination papers must be signed by at least five 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 the urban municipality passed a bylaw requiring candidates to submit a criminal record check, it must be filed with the nomination paper.

Election Day

The next general election for urban municipalities is Wednesday, October 28, 2020.

Voter Eligibility

Information about voter eligibility, how to vote, advance polls, mobile polls, the secrecy of the vote and regulations involving agents and candidates can be found under Voting in an Urban Municipality. This information is also found in the Election Guide for Municipalities.

As required under The Local Government Election Act, 2015, the administrator or his/her designate is required to submit municipal election results to the Minister of Government Relations as soon as possible after a municipal general election or by-election.

Municipalities are encouraged to submit the results electronically, eliminating the need to mail or fax them.