Returning Officer Explains Voting Changes Due To COVID - 19 Pandemc
Voting in the November 9th, 2020 civic election is going to be a bit of a different affair all thanks to the COVID - 19 pandemic.
Not only has the pandemic having the City move away from multiple places to vote in the city it is also may very well have voters heading down to their mail box to vote. That’s because when the pandemic hit nobody knew just what the exact impact would be.
“We didn’t know to get around because of the pandemic and we didn’t know if we were going to be on lockdown or not,” Tracey Wittke returning officer for the City of Moose Jaw said.
The unknowns of the pandemic had the City looking at holding the voting in larger facilities so as to easier allow for social distancing between voters and election workers.
“We moved the voting to a larger facility to help put with the social distancing,” Wittke said.
All regular polls this election will be held in two facilities - the Moose Jaw Exhibition Association and at Church of Our Lady.
The pandemic is having an effect upon how the advance polls are operating at City Hall. There will be more daytime hours to vote.
“This year (things have changed) I know in the past in City Hall the main entrance was used but it is very congested,” she said, adding “to me it was a little bit crowded.”
The change will see not only advance polls held in Council chambers on the second floor but also there will be daytime voting on days other than just Saturday.
Plans call for voters to take the elevator - while maintaining proper physical distancing - and then entering through the south exit of the Council Chambers and exiting through the north entrance and exiting by the elevator.
The stariways remain out of bounds for all but City staff.
“10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2020
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2020
12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2020
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2020
10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2020
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2020
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2020”
“It is uncharted times and we are doing the best we can woth what we have,” she said.
Wearing masks at the polls is not compulsuary and it is up to the individual if they chose to wear one or not but the City asks people to respect others and maintain the two meter recommended physical distance.
“Ww want to make it fair and accessible to all…we are encouraging people to wear their masks but i totally understand we cannot force people that on people,” Wittke said. "Everybody has the right to vote. I cannot force anyone to wear a mask I am just asking the public to be respectful it is just five or ten minutes of your time.”
“Just be respectful of everyone is all I ask,” she said.
For those wishing to wear a mask the City is asking people to bring their own as they have a limited supply. There will be a few mask available for those who request to wear them when they vote.
To help speed the election process at the polls the City has made available the voter registration forms available on their website. Voters are asked, if they are able, to print them out, fill them out and then bring them to the poll. The forms can be used at both the regular and advance polls.
Voters will still need to provide their photo ID to vote.
“It is going to save you a couple of minutes when you vote,” she said.
For those who are unable to fill their voter’s registration form before showing up at the polls there will be forms available at the polls.
There will be plexiglass dividers to protect both election staff and voters at the polls.
Mail In Ballots
One area that has seen major changes by the Province - whose rules regulate much of how the election is held - are the rules on how to to obtain a mail in ballot.
In the past the applicaton ti receive a mail in ballot had to be witnessed by a select few people. The list of who can witness the mail in ballot application has been expanded by the Province after consultations with the municipalities saw a need to expand access to the process.
“The Province expanded the list of who csan witness the application and we are grateful for that,” Wittke said.
Applications for mail in ballots have to be received by mail or email by October 16th. With the in-person application deadline for mail in ballots at 4;45 pm November 6th at the City Clerk’s office.
At present there are 37 applications for mail in ballots when most elections have about nne or ten voters request them. Generally most people who request mail in ballots are “snowbirds” heading to sunnier locales for the Winter.
“I was hoping for a larger turnout of mail-in ballots for those not wanting to go out into the community,” she said.
There is one trick with mail in ballots and that is voters can come directly to the City Clerks office (until November 6th at 4:45 pm and request one there and if they so chose fill in a ballot there. People who cannot make the advance or regular polls can do this until the deadline and whenever the City Clerk’s office is open and the ballots are printed prior to the election.
“It happens in circumatances where an individual was going to vote at the election and they got called for surgery and could not attend an advance or regular poll.”
To vote through a mail in ballot at the Clerk’s Office a signature is not required from someone guaranteeing you are who you claim to be as the City Clerk’s office has people sworn in who can look at your photo ID and identify the voter.
“If it is at the office then we can do it as we are actually witnessing the ID on the application.”
All ballots made by applying at the City Clerk’s office go into a ballot box and are counted along with all other mail in votes.
People who use this method to vote and thereby not go through the regular, advance or special polls sre welcome to do so.
“We can accept any ballot (at the City Clerk’s office)…that’s OK it’s the election and we are here to help you.