Voting in Rural Municipal Elections

Revised April 2012 

Later this year, municipal elections for the reeve and councillors representing odd - numbered divisions will be held.  

It is important to become involved in your community's affairs and exercise your democratic right to choose the leaders of your community.  Become involved in your future.

Term of Office

The term of office for all members of council is 4 years commencing at the first meeting following the election.  If your municipality is holding a by-election for a councillor representing an even-numbered division, their term of office will end at the first meeting following the general election in October 2014.

Nomination Day

The nomination period begins when the returning officer publishes and posts the call for nominations (on or before September 4, 2012).  Nominations may be filed any time during regular office hours from the time the call for nominations is posted until the deadline of 4:00 pm on Nomination Day which is September 19.  If a further call for nominations is required as a result of insufficient candidates, the second nomination period expires on October 4

Who can be Nominated?

You are eligible for nomination as a candidate for municipal office if you are:

• at least 18 years old on Election Day;
• a Canadian citizen;
• eligible to vote in the rural municipality; and
• a resident of Saskatchewan

You require at least two voters to sign your candidate's nomination paper.  If you are seeking nomination as the reeve, the nominators may be any voter in the rural municipality.  If you are running as a councillor, the nominators must be eligible to vote in the division you wish to represent. 

If your municipality has passed a bylaw requiring candidates to submit a criminal record check it must be filed with the nomination paper.

Your nomination paper must be duly completed, signed, and accompanied by the candidate's signed acceptance. 

Election Day

Election Day is Wednesday, October 24, 2012. 

Who Can Vote?

To be eligible to vote, you must:

• be at least 18 years old;
• be a Canadian citizen; and
• qualify as one of the following:

a) a resident of the rural municipality for at least three consecutive months;
b) a registered owner of taxable land in the rural municipality or the purchaser of land under a bona fide agreement for sale;
c) assessed as an occupant of any land in the rural municipality that is exempt from taxation;
d) assessed with respect to an improvement in the rural municipality;
e) licensed with respect to property in the rural municipality used for business purposes;
f) the holder of a permit in the rural municipality with respect to a trailer or mobile home;
g) a resident of Saskatchewan and the chief executive officer of a duly incorporated co-operative, corporation or religious association that is assessed on the last revised assessment roll with respect to property in the rural municipality that is not exempt from taxation or that is licensed with respect to a home-based business; or
h) the spouse of a person mentioned in b, c, d, e, or f and resides with that person in Saskatchewan but outside of the rural municipality.

Reeves are elected at large by all voters, whereas councillors are elected only by voters qualifying to vote in that division.  Your property tax notice contains information about the division in which you are entitled to vote.

How to Vote

Eligible voters can vote at the polling station set up in their municipality.  The Notice of Vote includes details about the location of polling places.  The polling station is open from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. on Election Day, unless a bylaw is adopted extending the hours of voting.  Voters are required to provide proof of identity and residence.

Instructions on how to vote are posted at the polling station.  If you need help, the Deputy Returning Officer who gives you your ballot paper will assist you.

The ballot(s) provided to you by election officials list the names of candidates for each office alphabetically in the order of their surnames.  The candidate's occupation may be printed beneath the candidate's name.

You may vote for only one candidate for reeve and/or for a councillor in the division you are entitled to vote in by making a distinct "X" in the space following candidate's name.  The ballot is secret.

Advance Poll

Your municipality may provide opportunities to vote at an Advance Poll.  Council is required to provide the opportunity if at least five (5) voters request the advance poll on or before September 26 (at least 30 days before Election Day).

Advance polls can be held on any of the 5 days before Election Day except on a Sunday.  You may vote at an Advance Poll if you:

• are disabled;
• are an election official; or
• have reason to believe you will be absent from your residence and poll on Election Day.

Voting at an Advance Poll is conducted in the same manner as a regular poll.  The locations and hours of all Advance Polls are listed on the Notice of Advance Poll, advertised in your municipality.  This information is also available from the Returning Officer.

Voting by Mail

Your municipality may provide opportunities to vote by mail.  Contact the municipal office to determine if this option is available.