Municipal Election Plans Brought Forward

With the specture of COVID - 19 and a provincial election just two weeks prior Administration announced their plans to hold a municipql election to a;;pw as many as people, who so desire, have the opportunity to cast their ballot.

The municipal and school division vote is om November 9th while the provincial election is October 26th.

In order to ensure voters are able to use safe physical distancing because of the COVID - 19 pandemic Administration proposed a number of measures.

The first of the measures will see the city split up into six electoral districts, with three on South Hill and three on North Hill.

South Hill vote at Church of Our Lady and North Hill will vote at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds.

City clerk/solicitor Myron Gulka-Teichko said by going to two polls om areas with a lot of space it would make it easier maintain physical distancing while voting.

Additionally instead of two opportunities to both in the advance poll there is planned an entire week when others are able to during regular City Hall hours vote in Council Chambers.

By spacing the advance poll over so many hours Gulka-Teivhko felt it would allow people to maintain physical distancing.

Mobile and special polls will continue to people who are physically unable to get out to vote and for senior as well as social housing complexes.

Gukka-Teichko felt the two week spacing between the provincial and municipal votes was necessary so as to allow acquiring and to train people for the municipal vote. He worried if the two votes wear closer together it would be hard to fund election workers.

The rates of pay will be: Poll Supervisor $270.00/per day, Ballot Receiving Officer $255.00/per day, Ballot Issuing Officer $250.00/per day. An additional $50.00 will be paid for attendance at a mandatory training session.

Councillor Brian Swanson brought up two key points regarding Administration's election plans.

The first was as proposed there would not be any evening voting at advance polls. Something Councillor saw as essential as many people voted in the evening following work in advance polls.

An amendment allowing for two evenings to vote until 8 pm at City Hall's advance polls passed unanimously.

A second issue Councillor Swanson had with only two polling stations and having the both in November when the weather and the distance to the polls coukd dissuade some voters, especially seniors, from going out to cast their ballots.

He remembered when there were 18 voting places and how much easier it eas for people to vote.

“Eighteen voting stations and exercising your right to vote was just walking…for those with easy access to a vehicle (it’s easy) for those without (it isn't). For those who are elderly it’s not so easy to do,” Councillor Swanson said. “I would rather have 18 polling stations and you can walk if you want to.”

He also said on South Hill Church of Our Lady will serve as the polling station for an estimated 6467 others while the Exhibition will serve as a killing station for approximately 19,448 eligible voters.

What happens if 800 people show up all at once to both at the Exhibition Grounds, he asked.

Despite the points Councillor Swanson made Council voted six to one - with Councillor Swanson the only Council member opposed, to accept the election framework laidout by Administration.

More details and potential changes will be announced as the election takes shape.