30th Electoral Cycle Communique for Chief Official Agents, Issue Fourteen

Proposed Directives for 30th General Election

Update: Proposed CEO Directives – SK’s 30th General Election

This past Tuesday, August 15, I appeared before the Board of Internal Economy to request acceptance of the six proposed CEO Directives submitted to the Board on June 30 and forwarded to you that day in a Communique (see Issue Thirteen here)

The six proposed directives would allow for changes to:

  • Polling Divisions, directing changes to the traditional use of geographic sub-regions.
  • The Polling Period, authorizing a transition away from distinct advance and election day voting periods toward a unified “Voting Week.”
  • Electronic Poll Books/Voting Record, introducing technology that makes it faster and easier to process an increased number of voters while enabling real time data sharing with political stakeholders. The directive would also make provisions to remove the poll clerk election official position from all locations that use electronic poll books and implement the voting record form in locations that do not use electronic poll books.
  • Vote Counting Equipment, directing the use of equipment to count ballots linked to the use of electronic poll books, allowing election official to manage the higher number of ballots that come when using electronic poll books. Vote counting equipment counts ballots faster and more accurately than hand counting.
  • Vote Anywhere, directing the creation of a process whereby voters can vote outside of their constituency at certain voting locations designed as “vote anywhere,” a process that can only be instituted when using electronic poll books and vote counting equipment; and
  • Vote by Mail, continuing the use of the centralized Vote by Mail process developed for Saskatchewan’s 29th General Election, held on October 26, 2020.

Following discussion of the six directives proposed, the Board accepted three (Polling Divisions, The Polling Period, and Vote by Mail) while rejecting three (Electronic Poll Books/Voting Record, Vote Counting Equipment, Vote Anywhere).

The Board asked that I bring forward in September two new directives, including one that allows for the use of Electronic Poll Books in Saskatchewan cities (traditional polls would remain in rural constituencies) and another allowing for changes to ballot counting that would address risks introduced by the elimination of vote counting equipment within the election system.

You may be interested in reviewing my prepared remarks (which are attached) from the appearance.  You can also find these remarks by clicking here.

With the final count for by-elections in Lumsden-Morse, Regina Coronation Park, and Regina Walsh Acres being held this coming Tuesday, I would encourage those involved to review Issue 14 of your By-Election Communique for further details, should your candidate or a candidate representative want to attend.

I wish you all the best for the rest of the summer and look forward to engaging with you over the course of the coming year as we continue to prepare for the 30th general election.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Boda
Chief Electoral Officer
Province of Saskatchewan