Election Procedures for Municipalities

Councils are elected for four-year terms starting with the first meeting following the election. When required to hold a byelection, the elected member holds office for the remainder of the unexpired term of the person who they replaced. Towns, villages and cities that do not have a ward system may increase or decrease the size of their council by passing a bylaw at least 180 days before the general election.

Resort Villages

• On Saturday, August 29, 2020*, the next municipal election for mayor and councillors in a resort village will be held.
• Council consists of an elected mayor and a minimum of two councillors.

Rural Municipalities

• On Monday, November 9, 2020, municipal elections will be held for councillors representing odd-numbered divisions and the reeve.
• On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, municipal elections will be held for councillors representing even-numbered divisions.
• Council consists of an elected reeve and one councillor per division.

Urban Municipalities (cities, towns and villages)

• On Monday, November 9, 2020, cities, towns and villages will hold a municipal election for mayor and councillors.
• Council consists of an elected mayor and a minimum of two councillors.
• Municipalities that are divided into wards elect the proper number of council members for each ward.

DISCLAIMER: The general election date for Resort Villages has been updated to August 29, 2020, as per the Minister's Order. Returning Officers for resort village elections must refer to the Minister's Order for other related election matters covered by the order.

The nomination period opens at least 10 business days before nomination day. The period begins when the returning officer publishes and posts the call for nominations for a general election or byelection. Nominations may be filed anytime during regular office hours from the time the call for nominations is posted until the deadline.

Note: Public disclosure statements are now required to be attached to all nomination papers.

Resort Villages

• Nomination day is the fifth Saturday before election day.
• Nomination papers must be signed by at least five voters of the resort village.
• Deadline for filing nomination papers is 2 p.m.

Rural Municipalities

• Nomination day is the fifth Wednesday before election day.
• For the office of councillor, nomination papers must be signed by at least two voters of the division in which they are qualified to vote in a rural municipality.
• For the office of reeve, nomination papers must be signed by at least two voters of the rural municipality.
• Deadline for filing nomination papers is 4 p.m.

Urban Municipalities (cities, towns and villages)

• Nomination day is the fifth Wednesday before election day.
• Nomination papers must be signed by at least:
  • five voters of the municipality or ward (if applicable), in a city, town or village with a population of less than 20,000; or
  • 25 voters of the municipality or ward with a population of 20,000 or more in a city.
• Deadline for filing nomination papers is 4 p.m.

Persons eligible for nomination as a candidate in any Saskatchewan municipality must meet all the requirements listed for the municipality they wish to run in:

Resort Village

• is at least 18 years old on the day of the election.
• is not disqualified pursuant to this or any other Act.
• is a Canadian citizen at the time that he/she submits the nomination paper.
• has lived in Saskatchewan for at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the date on which he/she submitted the nomination paper, AND:
  1. in that resort village, or on land now in that resort village, for at least three consecutive months immediately preceding the date on which he/she submitted the nomination paper, OR
  2. is the assessed person with respect to property in the resort village, or on property now situated in the resort village, pursuant to Section 207 in The Municipalities Act, for at least three consecutive months immediately preceding the date on which he/she submitted the nomination paper, OR
  3. is the spouse of a person mentioned in paragraph 1 or 2 above.

Rural Municipality

• is at least 18 years old on the day of the election.
• is not disqualified pursuant to this or any other Act.
• is a Canadian citizen at the time that he/she submits the nomination paper.
• has lived in Saskatchewan for at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the date on which he/she submitted the nomination paper, AND:
  • lives in Saskatchewan, AND
  • is eligible to vote in the rural municipality.

Urban (city, town or village)

• is at least 18 years old on the day of the election.
• is not disqualified pursuant to this or any other Act.
• is a Canadian citizen at the time that he/she submits the nomination paper.
• has lived in Saskatchewan for at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the date on which he/she submitted the nomination paper, AND:
  • has lived in that municipality, or on land now in that municipality, for at least three consecutive months immediately preceding the date on which he/she submitted the nomination paper.

Information about voter eligibility in a general municipal election can be found under Voting.

As required under Section 140 of The Local Government Election Act, 2015, the administrator or his/her designate is required to submit municipal election results to the Minister as soon as possible after a municipal election or byelection. Municipalities are encouraged to electronically submit their election results using the Municipal Elections Results Form (MERT).

Municipalities should also update their information in the Municipal Directory. Email muninfo@gov.sk.ca if you have forgotten the username or password for your municipality.