Long lines, late night as Saskatoon voters turn out to polls

It was a late night for Saskatoon’s new city council.

Initial civic election results were first slated to be released shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. – that is, until voters determined otherwise.

“You can’t report results when people are still in the voting locations,” said Saskatoon’s returning officer, Catherine Folkersen.

While there were no reports of long line-ups during the day, voters turned up in droves at a handful of polling stations a couple of hours before close.

Everyone who was in line as of 8 p.m. cast a ballot. That led to two polls closing just before 9 p.m. – around the time final results were initially expected to be announced.

“We don’t turn anyone down who’s in line, so it may be a little inconvenient…but a line up is not bad news,” Folkersen said.

I’m at Brunskill school where lines are lined out the door and people telling me took an hour and half to vote @CKOMNews #yxevotes pic.twitter.com/kc9O2YnIzK

— JT Marshall (@jtmarshallCKOM) October 27, 2016

Elim church is also packed, told it’s going to take an hour here as well, so last people in won’t vote until 9 @CKOMNews #yxevotes pic.twitter.com/gFm3u7nn52

— JT Marshall (@jtmarshallCKOM) October 27, 2016

Indeed, they were a reflection of Saskatoon’s voter turnout: around 40 per cent of eligible voters showed up to polls, up slightly from 37 per cent in 2012.

The unofficial numbers, as of Thursday, show 80,012 of Saskatoon’s 200,228 eligible voters cast ballots in advanced polls and on election day.

It’s in stark contrast with Regina’s voter turnout Wednesday of 20.4 per cent.

Folkersen was Saskatoon’s first independent returning officer, appointed from outside city hall.

Saskatoon’s new city council will be sworn in Monday.