The second preliminary count of ballots in the Saskatchewan election is taking place today (Tuesday) and it appears Saskatoon Westview has gone to the NDP with April Chiefcalf the new MLA representing the constituency in the Legislature. She beat out David Buckingham by 37 votes.
In Saskatoon Willowgrove, Ken Cheveldayoff will keep his seat representing the Saskatchewan Party with 178 more votes than his NDP opponent. And in Prince Albert Northcote the Saskatchewan Party’s Alana Ross has garnered 133 more votes than Nicole Rancourt with the NDP.
Elections Saskatchewan says still more mail in ballots could arrive before November 7 and will be included in the final count on November 9th. The Saskatchewan Party is elected or leading in 34 ridings while the NDP is elected or leading in 27 ridings.
In response to the numbers being so close, USask assistant professor in the Department of Political Studies, Daniel Westlake doesn’t believe it’s that unusual for Saskatchewan or even across Canada. He suggests there are always going to be some ridings decided by a couple hundred votes or less.He gives an example from the 2020 election when the Sask Party won Saskatoon Riversdale by 81 votes and Prince Albert Northcote by 195.
But Westlake also notes that when observing the three elections previous to this one, from 2011 through 2020, the Sask. Party won more than 60 per cent of the vote, which is unique in Saskatchewan’s history, and he believes the last time it happened in any Canadian province was between 1949 and 1956 in Newfoundland, with the Liberal Party under Joey Smallwood. He expects once the final vote is done, the Sask. Party will have just over 50 per cent of the vote.
Detailed breakdown of mail in ballots on October 30th:
In Prince Albert Northcote there were 324 mail in ballots issued with 199 received and 24 rejected.
In Saskatoon Westview there were 484 mail ballots issued with 291 received and 46 rejected.
In Saskatoon Willowgrove there were 1085 ballots issued, 658 were received and 36 rejected.
