This issue of the Writ Period Bulletin for Field Leadership Team includes articles on:
Message from the Chief Electoral Officer
While we remain well within the writ period, I want to extend my sincere thanks for your work on election day — a day when all of Saskatchewan was focused on our efforts to deliver the province’s most important democratic event. As we look toward the final count on April 16, leading to the return of the writ on April 27, please know that our team at head office will continue to do our best to support your efforts, right up until the end. I look forward to hearing more about your experiences in the field in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you, again, for you all your efforts as you play an integral part in sustaining the democratic tradition of our province.
Reminder: Deadline for Receiving Absentee Ballots
On April 6, 2016 you received an issue of the Bulletin containing an article on the deadline for receiving absentee Ballots by mail. As a reminder, that deadline is the time of day that the mail is delivered on Thursday, April 14th to your Returning Office. (Through post office box or personal delivery). Please remember to close the absentee poll book following the procedures as outlined in the RO Manual, Section 13 found on pages 209 and 210 immediately after checking the mail on Thursday April 14th.
As always, if you have any questions regarding absentee ballots, please call the Support Desk at 1-866-249-7186 and select option 3.
Conducting the final count
Twelve days after election day, Saturday, April 16 is the day fixed for the final count. As per the date and time listed on the proclamation, final count begins at 9:00 a.m.
What is the final count?
Who can be present for the final count?
Entering Final Count Results in ESPREE
On Saturday, April 16, you will be entering final results into ESPREE. ESPREE takes the preliminary results and other information and transfers that data over to the Official results page for review. The Official Results section in ESPREE is also where you enter additional information from the E-312 and the poll book which is then used to create the E-148 and E-148S. (please note that the E-148 and E-148S will only be created electronically and that you do not need a paper copy of either document ahead of the process, this is a change from the RO Manual).
Additionally, attached to this issue of the Bulletin you’ll find a cheat sheet that tells you where to find the data for each field on the official results page.
Below you will find a link to a video that will walk you through the process of entering the results into ESPREE. If, after reviewing the video, you have questions about the process, please call 1-866-249-7186 and selection option 1. Please do not attempt to enter official results into ESPREE until Saturday, April 16th when final count begins.
Link to training video: https://vimeo.com/162450005/296cf1c776
More Information is Coming!
The next bulletin will include specific details regarding:
Please review Section 13 of your Returning Officer manual as it describes the process of Conducting the Final Count and Return to the WRIT with changes noted above.