(file photo/CKOM News Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Canada Votes

Make your mark: What you need as you head to the polls on Election Day

Oct 20, 2019 | 6:01 PM

After 40 days on the campaign trail, candidates vying for the 338 seats in the House of Commons now leave it all in the hands of the voters as Canadians head to the polls.

Polling stations are open on Oct. 21 from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. in Saskatchewan. As long as you are in line before the polls close, you are allowed to cast your ballot.

Under The Canada Election Act, every employee who is a voter is entitled to three consecutive hours off from work to vote.

When heading to the polling station, make sure you have either your driver’s licence or one piece of government issued identification that has your photo, name and current address.

Voters can also bring two pieces of identification. Both must have your name and at least one must have your current address. This could include your voter information card and a bank statement or a utility bill and student ID card.

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If you do not have either of these, do not fret, as here is a full list of accepted pieces of identification to prove your identity and address for Elections Canada.

You can also vote if you declare your identity and address in writing and have someone who knows you and who is assigned to your polling station vouch for you. The voucher must be able to prove their identity and address. A person can vouch for only one person (except in long-term care institutions). For details, head over to the Elections Canada webpage.

It’s possible there will be fewer voters headed to the polls on Monday than in the 2015 election thanks to a strong turnout in the advanced polls over the Thanksgiving long weekend. Across the country, turnout was up 29 per cent, at over 4.7 million voters.

Provincially, the number of voters who turned out between Oct. 11 and 14 is up 61 per cent, with 149,043 ballots counted this year as opposed to 91,891 in 2015. That is around 12 per cent of the province’s voting population.

After the polls close, make sure to tune in to our special election coverage on 1050 CJNB and 102.3 CJNS starting at 8 p.m.

We’ll have political analysis, up to the minute results, and interviews with the candidates all night.

You can also follow along online at battlefordsnow.com/elx2019 and meadowlakenow.com/elx2019 for federal and local coverage on the night.

—

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr