Like a number of other things, the municipal election is promising to look a little different this November.

Unlike many things, however, not all of those changes stem from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent amendments to the Saskatchewan Local Government Election Act now allow municipalities to establish an all-encompassing General Election Bylaw that covers a variety of procedural and legislated matters that previously would have needed to be approved separately either by resolution of by enacting multiple bylaws.

The efficiency of putting them all under one roof, so to speak, is just one such change.

At the last Swift Current city council meeting, they approved the creation of that general election bylaw, and at Monday night's meeting, council waived notice of its intention to introduce that bylaw.

The General Election Bylaw includes:

  • Establishing the requirement of criminal records checks be filed along with candidate nomination papers.-
  • Establishing the method for providing public notice;-
  • Providing for the inclusion of the candidate's occupation on the nomination paper and/or ballot.-
  • Providing for the use of voting machines and other equipment necessary such as a vote counting system.-
  • Authorizing the form of the ballot and the procedures that will be put in place for voting.-
  • Establishment of a mail-in voting process.-
  • Establishment of physical polling places in hospitals, personal care facilities or other similar institutions.-
  • Provisioning of mobile and special polls in order to facilitate the voting process for those who are unable to attend normal polling places due to disability or limited mobility.-
  • Defining the distribution and authorization of campaign advertising.-
  • To determine the disclosure of campaign contributions and expenses.

The mail-in ballot process is one of those measures that are of particular importance due to the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. As stated by Jackie Schlamp, Swift Current city clerk, in the previous city council meeting, the pandemic could possibly create an increased demand for a mail-in option, which she and her team are prepared for.

During the last municipal election in Swift Current, 34 people took advantage of the option; a number that Schlamp said on June 29th could see an increase.

At that previous city council meeting, a number of measures talked about on Monday night had already been brought forward; such as the use of Trailview Church, the Chinook Golf Course and the Innovation Credit Union iPlex as polling locations.

The Municipal Election is scheduled for November 9th.