Regina residents to receive mail-in ballots for city election this week

Ahead of November’s municipal election, Regina’s returning officer Jim Nicol says mail-in ballots remain an option for anyone who wants them.

“What we want to do is just give people a gentle reminder of what to expect when they receive their ballot in the mail,” Nicol said at a city hall media event on Thursday.

Nicol said people who apply will begin to receive those ballots this week.

Residents can expect to receive a full package with detailed information should they apply for mail-in voting. (Daniel Reech/980 CJME)

When residents receive their ballots, they will also receive an instruction sheet and a voting confirmation form that must be signed and dated before being sent back to the election office.

Mail-in ballots must be returned to the elections office on 1025 Park Street by no later than 8 p.m. on November 13, which is Regina’s election day.

Regular polls are scheduled to open at 9 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Nicol estimated that between 195,000 and 200,000 people are eligible to vote in Regina. As of Thursday, he said about 2,500 had applied for mail-in ballots.

“It could really speed up over the next few days, or it could plateau,” he said.

Nicol said there are about 93 total candidates running this year for the mayor’s office and positions on council and school boards. He said he hopes the wide array of candidates will generate more excitement and interest in the election compared to 2020, which only saw a 21 per cent voter turnout.

“There are numerous ways to vote. It’s very easy. It is not time consuming,” he said.

“Starting on the first there’s going to be four days of advance polls. You can still get a mail-in ballot application and, of course, regular (voting) day on the 13th, so lots of opportunities to vote.”

Nicol acknowledged that voter fatigue could play a role in suppressing turnout due to the municipal vote’s close proximity to the provincial election on Monday, as well as a potential federal election and even the U.S. presidential election.

However, Nicol said the city’s communications team has done a great job at getting the word out.