(File photo/paNOW Staff).

By Mat Barrett

Advance Polls

Advance polls, mail-in ballots popular in Melfort ahead of municipal election

Nov 3, 2020 | 1:05 PM

Less than a week remains until municipal elections across Saskatchewan.

In Melfort, advance polls and mail-in ballots were very popular this year, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Melfort’s city clerk and returning electoral officer Heather Audette says more people are getting their votes in early.

“We’ve doubled the amount of people voting in advance polls and mail-in ballots,” she said.

This year, there were 361 voters coming through the advance polls, and as of the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 3, there’s been 87 mail-in ballots.

That’s compared to just 225 advanced and mail-in votes in 2016 in the last municipal election.

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“It’s good for voter turnout, and creates some excitement in the election,” Audette told northeastNOW. “So, we’re very pleased with that.”

There were a number of protocols in place at the polling stations as well to help with social distancing and keeping those who attended safe. Audette said everyone in attendance seemed to follow the rules set out.

Mail-in ballots are also still available for those who would like to take advantage of them, however they must be turned in by the closure of polls on election day, Nov. 9. Residents can apply for the mail-in ballots at city hall, and return them there as well, or deliver them to the polling station on election day.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6