More than 14,000 Saskatoon voters have already applied for mail-in ballots

Despite what has been a bumpy process at times, thousands of Saskatoon voters have chosen to mail in their votes for the Nov. 9 civic election.

As of Wednesday, the civic elections office has received more than 14,000 mail-in ballot applications through the online form. In 2016 there were only 200 applications for mail-in ballots.

Election officials say this is the first election with an online application option and there have been some hiccups.

Some voters have not had a smooth experience and it's been slower than anticipated in confirming that applications have been received.

Scott Bastian, returning officer for the Saskatoon civic election, said the number of people wanting mail-in ballots has exceeded expectations.

"We've been responding by increasing the number of people on the team to review applications and prepare those packages to keep up with the volume," said Bastian.

The civic election mail-in ballot application review process takes longer to verify for each voter than the provincial one, because municipal elections do not rely on an established voter's list.

There are also three races mayor, councillor and public or Catholic school board trustee for each voter.

Mail-in ballots must be received by 8 p.m. CSTon election day (Monday, Nov. 9) or they will not be counted.

The application deadline for mail-in ballots is Friday.

Bastian said people may want to drop off their ballots at the election office to make sure they are counted.

Thecivic elections office offered the following guidelines:

• For voters who do receive their mail-in ballot package before Nov. 2, mark your candidates and send your ballot back in the mail using the postage-paid envelope provided.

• For voters who receive their mail-in ballot package on or after Nov.2, given the uncertainty of mailing times, plan to drop your mail-in ballot off in-person or have a designate drop it off for you at the election office (226 Cardinal Crescent) before 8 p.m. CST Nov. 9.

• Due to the high volume of mail-in applications received and awaiting verification,the citywill identify additional facilities where voters can drop off their mail-in ballots before election day.

Advance polls

Advance polls open Friday.

There will be 10advance poll locations, but they won't all be open at the same time.

A new drive-thru poll,located on 46th Street in the north industrial area,is only open Sunday.

"We are expecting that one to be a busy location as well, partially because it is new to Saskatoon and also because it is a drive-thru option so voters won't have to get out of their vehicle," Bastian said.

Like all advance polls, voters must have their voter registration form and a piece of identification.

Advance polls run from this Friday until Nov. 5.

Bastian said turnout at advance polls has increased in the last two civic elections and he anticipates that trend will continue.

"We're expecting those to be popular turnouts and provide a lot of opportunity over those seven days in 10 different locations," he said.

The civic election is following suit with the provincial guidelines, which means it is recommended but not mandatory to wear maskson election day.

Some of the advance poll locations do have mandatory mask requirements.

Results

Bastian said election officials can begin to process those ballots before election day, though they won't know what the results are.

"The bylaw is designed as such, that if we receive 100 or more mail-in ballots returned by the close of advanced polls, we can start to insert those into the tabulator," Bastian said.

"They are inserted into a tabulator, which basically just prepares the information, but we don't have any results until after the close of polls."

Go to https://www.saskatoon.ca/voting-elections for more information.