Municipal Elections in Urban Municipalities – Towns and Villages

Cities, Town, Villages  [Excluding Resort Villages]

Revised November 2010

It doesn't matter how you vote, the important thing is that you vote

The next general election for urban municipalities (cities, towns, villages) will take place Wednesday October 24, 2012. 

It is important to become involved in your community's affairs and exercise your democratic right to choose the leaders of your community.   This brochure briefly explains the nomination and election process in urban municipalities.

Nomination Day for cities, towns, and villages will be September 19, 2012.  At least 10 business days before Nomination Day, the Returning Officer will publish and post a Notice of Call for Nominations stating the  vacancies to be filled by the election.    Urban municipal councils are elected for 4-year terms, commencing with the first meeting following the election.   Council's consist of an elected mayor and a certain number of councillors.  Generally, cities will have six to ten - towns will have six - villages usually have two or four.  Municipalities may increase or decrease the size of its council by passing a bylaw at least 180 days before the general election. The lowest number of council members an urban municipality can have is a mayor and two councillors.  Municipalities that are divided into wards elect one council member for each ward.

Nomination Day

Nominations can then be filed at the municipal administration office any time during regular office hours and from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Nomination Day.

Who Can Run?

Persons eligible for nomination as a candidate in an urban municipality must:

• be at least 18 years old on Election Day;
• be a Canadian citizen;
• have resided in the municipality for at least 3 consecutive months immediately preceding the date nomination paper is submitted; and have resided in Saskatchewan for at least 6 consecutive months immediately preceding the date nomination paper is submitted.

Nomination papers must be signed by at least 5 voters of the municipality or ward (if applicable), in urban municipalities with a population of less than 20,000.  An urban municipality or ward with a population of 20,000 or more requires the signatures of at least 25 electors.

If your municipality has passed a bylaw requiring candidates to submit a criminal record check it must be filed with the nomination paper.

Who Can Vote?

Eligible voters must be:

• at least 18 years old on Election Day;
• a Canadian citizen;
• a resident of Saskatchewan for at least 6 consecutive months immediately preceding election day; and
• either:
• a) a resident of the municipality for at least 3 consecutive months immediately preceding the day of the election: or;
• b) an owner of assessable land for at least 3 consecutive months immediately preceding the day of the election.

How to Vote

Eligible voters can vote at the polling station set up in their municipality or ward (applicable).  Voters can check the Notice of Poll for the location of their polling place.  Polling stations are open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Instructions on how to vote are posted at all polling stations.  If you need help the Deputy Returning Officer who gives you the ballot will assist you. 

Urban municipalities may make special provisions to accommodate voters with limited mobility by providing mobile polls and curbside voting.  Information on these methods of voting is available from the Returning Officer.

The names of the candidates for mayor and councillors are listed on the ballots for each office.  Generally, the names will be alphabetical although Council may have earlier provided for random or rotational order.  The candidate's occupation, if any, is printed beneath the candidate's name.

You may vote for only one candidate for mayor, and no more than the stated number of councillors, by making a distinct "X" in the space beside the candidate's name.  The ballot is secret.

Advance Poll

One or more advance polls will operate during the weeks immediately before Election Day.  You may vote at an Advance Poll if you:

• are disabled;
• are an election official; or
• have reason to believe you will be absent from your residence and poll on Election Day.

Voting at Advance Polls is conducted in the same manner as at a regular poll.  The locations and hours of all Advance Polls are listed on the Notice of Advance Poll, advertised in your municipality.  This information is also available from the Returning Officer.

For further information, contact:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs
Advisory Services Unit

Telephone:   (306) 787-2680
E-mail:   muninfo@gov.sk.ca