Record-High Advance Voter Turnout in Saskatchewan Ahead of Monday’s Election

Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck (L) in Regina on March 20, 2024; and Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe (R) in Regina on Dec. 18, 2023. The Canadian Press/Heywood Yu

A record number of people have turned out to vote at advance polls in the Saskatchewan election.

In the first four days of early voting, 223,344 people had cast a ballot, according to Elections Saskatchewan. In 2020, 184,742 people in total turned out to vote in advance.

On Oct. 22, the first day of advanced voting, 61,047 people cast a ballot. Day two saw 59,060 residents vote and on Oct. 24, 51,064 people cast an early vote. A total 52,173 votes were cast on Oct. 25.

During a rally in Saskatoon on Oct. 26, Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe said the numbers give him confidence that his party will win a majority in the election, which will take place on Oct. 28.

“How we achieve a majority government, which would be 31 seats, is trying to win 61 [seats],” he said.

Polls released on Oct. 25 show a tight race, with Moe’s party receiving 50 percent of the popular vote and the official opposition NDP at 44 percent, according to 338Canada. The results predict a 36-seat majority for the Sask Party and 25 seats for the NDP.

Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck says people are looking for a change.

“From Yorkton to Fort Qu’appelle and across Saskatchewan, the energy and momentum are growing. For too long the Sask. Party has taken rural voters for granted. And people are fed up. It’s time for change and together we are going to win this,” she said in an Oct. 24 post on the X platform.

With the B.C. and New Brunswick incumbent governments being punished at the polls, Moe says he is not concerned that will happen in Saskatchewan.

“We have 61 dynamic candidates, not only running in Saskatoon, but running across this province,” he told the crowd.

One of the candidates, Ghislaine McLeod, said residents are telling her that they have trust in the Sask. Party.

“There’s trust for this party. There’s optimism about this party, and there’s confidence in this party,” she said during the rally.

However, it hasn’t been an easy campaign for Moe, with two former Sask. Party members saying they will be voting NDP this time.

Mark Docherty, a former speaker of the House who retired from Moe’s government in 2023, said Beck shows strong leadership.

Glen Hart, a Saskatchewan Party member who retired in 2020, said the party has moved away from its roots and to the right.

The two men participated in an NDP rally alongside Beck in Regina on Oct. 17.

Ian Hanna, who was once an adviser to former Sask. Party premier Brad Wall, and Randy Weekes, who quit the party earlier this year, said they too will support the NDP.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.