Party leaders in Sask. encourage voters to head to advance polls

Party leaders in Saskatchewan are encouraging voters to take advantage of advance polling stationsas the province climbs into unprecedented COVID-19 territory with rising cases.

"We would encourage everyone to get out and exercise their right to vote," saidSaskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe, speaking in the Saskatoon Riversdale riding on Tuesday morning."They might want to consider visiting an advanced polling station rather than getting out on election day ...if they're concerned there might be some crowds."

Moe assured voters that the polls will be safe, citing the efforts by chief electoral officer Michael Boda and his staff to ensure safety and also longerhours at the polling stations.

There were427 active cases of COVID-19 in the province as of Tuesday, but there is not a blanket mandatory mask policy at polling stations across the province. When asked about that decision,Moeinsisted that the existing mask policy is clear and that it works.

He said superspreader events, such as thePrince Albert gospel centre outbreak, and outbreaks tied to Saskatoon nightclubs, have led to a dramatic rise in cases.

"Where we are having challenges is whenpeople are stepping outside of the public health recommendations and the public health laws," he said.

NDP Leader Ryan Meilialso addressed the rising COVID-19 cases in Saskatoon Tuesday afternoon.

"The increase in cases is very concerning. That's part of why we're encouraging people get out there and vote early," Meili said, shortly before casting his own ballot at an advanced polling station. "We believe Elections Saskatchewan is doing everything they can to keep people safe."

Meili used the opportunity to call on voters to head to the polls,but he also criticized Moe for how he responded to the rising number of cases.

"Mr. Moe has given mixed messages throughout and when things get more difficult he tends to point fingers at others. He tends to blame the public instead of taking responsibility for his own failure in leadership," Meili said.

He called again for clearer guidanceand said that if he was elected he would work with public health to determine what number of cases wouldtrigger a mandatory mask policy.

How to vote

Advance voting for the provincial election starts Tuesday, with polls open from noon to 8 p.m. CST daily until Saturday.

Your voter information card will have the location of the advance voting location in your area, or you can find a full list online on the Elections Saskatchewan website.

Elections Saskatchewan is encouraging people to vote in the afternoons if possible, because locations tend to be less busy at that time.

Voters are encouraged to wear a mask.Chief electoral officer Michael Boda said elections officials and candidate scrutineers will be requiredto wear masks.

Voting locations will have fewer polling stations than normal in order to give people more space, Boda said.

"We have taken significant steps to make sure that the advance polls and election day polls are safe for voters to attend," Boda said.

"We've worked very closely with the chief medical health officer to ensure that we adapt the system so that it's pretty much what you would expect if you went to your local grocery store. Our standards are just as high and higher."

Applications for mail-in ballots closed Oct. 15. Boda said more than 61,000 applications for mail-in ballots were approved this year, up from 4,000 applications in the 2016 election.

Boda saidElections Saskatchewan started to ramp up its operations in August to meet the predicted demand for mail-in voting this year.

How to follow results on Saskatchewan election night

The live program, which will be hosted by CBC'sSam Maciag,will begin at 7:30 p.m. CST.

Watch online:Live streaming online atCBC SaskatchewanandCBC Saskatoonwebsites,CBC Gem,Facebook,TwitterandYouTube.

Watch on TV:Live on CBC Television (check your TV service provider for channel).The program will be available on CBC News Network beginning at 8 p.m. CST.

Listen:Live on CBC Radio One (540 AM; 102.5 FM in Regina; 94.1 FM in Saskatoon) orlisten online.

Follow and join the conversation by using#skvotes.