(File photo/Elections Sask)

By Teena Monteleone

PA votes 2024

Returning officer anticipates higher voter turnout

Nov 12, 2024 | 1:43 PM

In the last municipal election in 2020, a total of 3,303 voters visited advanced polls over the course of six days.

This year, there were 2,186 ballots cast in advanced polls over just four days.

“The first session at the Alfred Jenkins had 1,022 voters over Friday and Saturday,” said Terri Mercier, returning officer for the civic election. “This last weekend, when we had the drive through at the Exhibition, it was 1,164. So, the drive through was pretty successful that way.”

If those advanced polling numbers are any indication, Mercier said there should be higher voter turnout overall for election day tomorrow. According to the declaration of results, there were just 7,302 voters in 2020.

“If I recall my report, it was 29 per cent of eligible voters that came out whereas in 2016, it was 39 per cent.”

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Mercier said last time around, we were in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the city took a lot of steps to mitigate any effects of it by making adaptations with special care homes, for example. What really prevented people from coming out was a major snowstorm on election day. Fortunately, the forecast calls for lots of sunshine and temperatures on the plus side for Wednesday.

“There are polling stations in each ward, except in Ward 2 there are two polling stations because it crosses the river. Anybody can look on the PAVotes.ca website to find your polling locations through our interactive map where they can simply type their address and we’ll let you know which ward and which polling station,” said Mercier.

Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day Wednesday. To avoid line-ups at the polls, voters are encouraged to fill out the Voter Registration Form prior to attending. Voters must sign the form in front of an election official at the poll. Transit is also free on election day, running from 6:45 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. Transportation services provided by the Prince Albert and District Community Service Centre will also be available free of charge to seniors and residents with special needs.

Mercier said votes from all 12 polling stations in Prince Albert will be counted by vote tabulating machines after 8 p.m. If mail-in ballots are not received by 8 p.m. on election day, they are not counted.

She expects the municipal election results to be in before 9 p.m.

For a full list of candidates in the municipal and school board elections, click here.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com