Elections

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Elections

2020 Local Government Elections

Election Day - Monday, November 9, 2020

School Board Elections
Citizens of Melfort elect two members to the North East School Division.   For information on voting in School Board Elections and running for election to a public or separate School Board, please click here to consult the brochure published by the Saskatchewan School Boards Association or visit the North East School Division website.

Municipal Council Elections

Qualifications for Candidates

A person is qualified to be nominated as a candidate for the position of Mayor or Councillor if that person:

1. is at least eighteen (18) years of age or older on election day; and

2. is, at the time he or she submits the nomination paper
   (a) a Canadian citizen, and
   (b) has resided in the City of Melfort for at least three consecutive months 
     immediately preceding the date on which the nomination paper is submitted, and
   (c) has resided in the Province of Saskatchewan for at least six consecutive months  
     immediately preceding the date on which the nomination paper is submitted.

None of the following persons are eligible to be nominated or elected to hold office as a member of council:
1. a judge of a court, or
2. an auditor or solicitor of the municipality.

No person is disqualified from being nominated for office as a member of council by reason of having an interest in a contract with the City.  Any employee of the City of Melfort, who may be interested in being nominated for the office of Mayor or Councillor, must first obtain a leave of absence in accordance with subsection 80(1) of The Labour Standards Act.  If an employee on leave of absence is successfully elected, the employee is deemed to have resigned from his or her position on the day before the day on which he or she is declared elected. 

Nomination of Candidates
Application:

Nomination papers for municipal offices may be obtained from the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall (202 Burrows Avenue West) or online.  To be nominated for an elected position a person must file a nomination paper with the Returning Officer or the Associate Returning Officer, or his/her designate, either personally, or by agent during the specified nomination period.

Requirements:

  1. The nomination paper must state the name and address of the person being nominated and the office for which they are being nominated.
  2. For the office of Mayor, the application must be signed by at least five (5) electors of the City accompanied by the name and address of each nominator.
  3. For the position of Councillor, the application must be signed by at least five (5) electors of the City, accompanied by the name and address of each nominator.
  4. The nomination paper is not valid unless the candidate’s acceptance statement is signed by the person being nominated and witnessed by two persons.
Relevant Provisions:

  1. Only one person can be nominated for the election on each nomination paper.
  2. An elector may sign the nomination papers of more than one person.
  3. No candidate can nominate himself/herself.
  4. The onus to file a bona fide nomination paper is on the person being nominated.
  5. No person can be nominated as both Mayor and Councillor of the City.
  6. A receipt for nomination will be issued at the time the form is filed at City Hall. 
Filing of Nomination Papers:

Nomination papers may be filed with the Returning Officer or her designate at the Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 202 Burrows Avenue West at any time during normal office hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) during the nomination period and on Nomination Day from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., when nominations close. 

Withdrawal of Nomination:

A person who has been nominated may withdraw his/her nomination within 24 hours of the close of nominations by filing with the Returning Officer a written request to that effect signed by the nominated person and by either two witnesses or the Returning Officer or the Nomination Officer.  A request to withdraw a nomination must be filed with the Returning Officer between 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the following Nomination Day.

Voter Qualifications
A person is qualified to vote in a municipal election for the offices of Mayor and/or Councillor if that person:

  1. is at least eighteen (18) years of age or older on election day; and
  2. is a Canadian citizen (on election day); and
  3. is a Saskatchewan resident and has so resided for at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the day of the election; and
  4. is a resident of the City of Melfort and has so resided for at least three consecutive months immediately preceding the day of the election;    OR    is the owner of assessable land in the City and has been so for at least three consecutive months immediately preceding the day of the election.
Note:
Please consult Section 36 of The Local Government Election Act, 2015 for purposes of interpretation of these requirements.
 
Rules of Residence:

The following is a summary of the rules of residence, as set out in The Local Government Election Act, 2015:

Rule #1: The residence of a person is the place at which he or she resides and to which, when he or she is absent from that place, that person has the intention of returning.  The place they typically call "home".
 
Rule #2: A person who is temporarily absent from their normal place of residence does not lose residency, as long as they remain in Saskatchewan, until such time as he or she has acquired another residence.
 
Rule #3: A person who is not a full time student cannot have more than one residence in Saskatchewan.  If they have more than one home in Saskatchewan, the person shall elect one of those as his or her residence.
 
Note:

  • Active members of the Canadian Armed Forces are deemed to have ordinary residence at the place where they reside, or at the place they have moved from if that place is in Saskatchewan, for the duration of their service.
  • Full time students are deemed to have residence at the place where they study and the place they have moved from when the places are in Saskatchewan
Please consult Section 3 and 4 of The Local Government Election Act, 2015 for purposes of interpretation of these rules.

Commonly Asked Question about the Eligibility to Vote:

Although the general rule is "one vote per voter”, one exception to this rule occurs where a person is a qualified elector of a municipality in which he or she resides and is an elector of another Saskatchewan municipality in which he or she has been the owner of assessable land for at least three consecutive months immediately preceding election day.  This person may vote in both municipalities.

A full time student may vote in both the place where they study and the place they have moved from when the places are in Saskatchewan.

An elector is a "natural person", not a corporation.

Voter Identification
All voters must provide identification to be able to vote, in order to prove identity and residency.  Government-issued photo ID that shows your photo, name and civic (street) address is your best option, but there are other alternatives available to you.

Acceptable Photo Identification

  • A valid Saskatchewan Driver's License that includes civic address
  • A valid Saskatchewan ID card issued by SGI or any motor license issuer (free for seniors)
  • Any other valid government-issued photo ID issued by a Canadian government whether federal, provincial or municipal, or an agency of that government, as long as it includes your name and civic address
     
    Acceptable Non-Photo Identification
    In the absence of valid photo ID, voters must have two pieces of identification, both of which have the voter's name, and at lease one of which also has his or her civic address.  For example, a Canadian passport is not an acceptable form of photo ID because it does not contain your civic address; however, a Canadian passport can be used as identification if paired with another document that has your name and civic address on it.  Click here for a list of Acceptable Voter Identification options.

    Mail-In Ballots
    Qualified City of Melfort voters who are unable to vote on Election Day or during the advance polls can participate in the 2020 municipal election by mail-in ballot.

    Starting on (date to be determined), qualified voters can apply to vote using a mail-in ballot.  Application must be made in person at the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, 202 Burrows Avenue West from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.  Applicants must complete a voter's registration form and produce the necessary voter identification (see above). 

    In October a ballot package will be mailed to you at your temporary address.  It will contain a ballot and instructions on how to complete and return the ballot package.  It is very important that you carefully follow the instructions for completing and returning the ballot.  In order to be counted, your ballot must be received by the Returning Officer by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.  Return postage is the responsibility of the voter.

    Voting and Election Day

    Advance Poll:
    Dates to be determined.

    Regular Polls:
    Polling stations are located at the  Kerry Vickar Centre, 206 Bemister Avenue East, on Election Day.
    Polls are open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

    Election Results:
    Election results will be officially declared by the Returning Officer by 12:00 p.m., on the day immediately following Election Day.

    Links and Publications
    Candidates Information Booklet 2016
    Nomination Form/Candidate's Acceptance/Candidate Profile Form
    Running for Municipal Office
    Voting in School Board Elections and Running for Election to a School Board 
    Polling Information 2016
    Voter Identification
    2016 Election Results
    2012 Election Results 
    2009 Election Results
    2008 By-Election Results
    2007 By-Election Results
    2006 Election Results
    2003 Election Results
    2000 Election Results
    1997 Election Results

    The election information presented in this website is intended for guidance only. Readers are advised to consult The Local Government Election Act for interpretation of the law.