COVID-19 has fundamentally changed the way we’re voting this election day

From the backlash both the Saskatchewan Party’s Scott Moe and NDP Leader Ryan Meili received after being pictured without masks, to the campaign volunteers going door to door, speaking to constituents WITH masks at a distance, the novel coronavirus has had an effect on the entire provincial election campaign.

University of Saskatchewan political scientist Greg Poelzer says voters are used to more public events like rallies, community gatherings and up-close “meet-and-greet” sessions.

Volunteers campaigning going door to door have worn masks, had discussions with voters at a distance and even simply dropped off flyers at times to avoid potential risk.

Because of the safety concerns surrounding the spread of COVID, that’s not possible this year. That has led to a much greater use of social media and other mediums.

“I think the televised debate mattered a little bit more because those are one of the very few keyholes that voters had to peek in to see where our two main leaders are, and where they are in their campaigns and their platforms and so on,” Poelzer said.

The other big difference is simply not being able to “chew the fat” with friends, neighbours and others about their opinions on the leaders and their platforms.

“The closest you get to any kind of sense of momentum is really lawn signs because we just don’t have those same interpersonal discussions going on that we have had in previous elections,” Poelzer added.

When it comes to the leaders themselves, they’ve held more low-key events. News conferences have had to be conducted with fewer supporters, physically distanced and outdoors for the most part.

However, what has emerged this time around, says Poelzer, are very clear differences between the two main parties.

“I think the last two or three elections there wasn’t as big a policy difference between the NDP and the Sask. Party. This time there is and there’s a really clear choice between the two parties,” he said.

As for voting itself, chief electoral officer Dr. Michael Boda says rather than the usual 1,100 polling stations across the province, there are 2,000 of them.

Elections officials are making sure voters are not only physically distancing, but encouraging mask use and regularly disinfecting all commonly touched surfaces.

Schools are not in session on purpose on election day.

“We needed to spread out. We needed more space for polling locations,” Boda said last week.

Even the results will take longer this time around. More than 60,000 ballots have been sent in by mail, and advance polls have seen record turnouts.

The final official count won’t be completed until 12 days after election day.