Voting turnout at polling stations this morning was lower than previous years, following massive numbers in advance polls and mail-in ballots. (Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Quiet turnout early

Polling stations seeing slow, steady turnout on election day

Oct 26, 2020 | 1:40 PM

Saskatchewan residents are taking to the polls today, though in smaller numbers than is typical of past election days.

So far, polling stations in Northwest Saskatchewan ridings aren’t facing massive delays or lines that go out the door. Helena Long, the returning electoral officer for the Cut Knife-Turtleford riding, said the numbers of voters getting to their neighbourhood locations isn’t dead, but hasn’t been overwhelming.

“I don’t think there’s been any huge lineups, but things have been pretty steady,” she said.

Ed Iwanchuk, returning electoral officer for the Battlefords, echoed Long’s comments on the current flow of voters, saying the busyness of the start of the day has been the only stress on workers thus far.

“They have to check in with us and we have to make sure they have everything they need and are ready for the voters,” Iwanchuk said.

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Both Long and Iwanchuk said a massive turnout at advance polls, mail-in ballots and absentee voting all contributed to below-average volume of voters today. Both absentee and advance polling were double the last election total and the addition of mail-in ballots means a significant number of Saskatchewan citizens have already been accounted for.

“Approximately 15 per cent of the voters in the whole province voted by mail,” Iwanchuk said. “I think it’s an attempt to avoid the COVID-19 environment.”

Iwanchuk said it’s also possible that outside of the pandemic, voters aren’t as passionate about any one issue compared to previous elections.

“When there’s major issues out there, people tend to show up and they want to express how they feel about the issues,” he said.

Despite a slower start, Iwanchuk said he expects large turnout this evening.

“Rush times around the beginning of the day when polls open at 9, then an uptick from 6-8 p.m., right till we close,” he said. “Afternoons are traditionally quieter.”

And staff have done everything possible to make things safe for residents to cast their vote.

“We have put an extensive effort to make our polling places safe,” Iwanchuk said. “The voting [stations] are much safer that some of the places people visit every day.

—

josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports