Busy advance polls sees long wait lines in Saskatoon

High voter turnout is creating some long wait lines at advance polling stations across Saskatoon.

Advance polls close at 7 p.m. Thursday after opening on Friday at Lawson Heights Mall, Confederation Mall, Market Mall, The Centre Mall, Ebenezer Baptist Church and City Hall.

Through the first three days of advance voting, nearly 10,000 votes were cast as concerns about COVID-19 become paramount. Final results on advance voting won’t be available for a few days, but it’s expected to exceed the 17,603 votes, or 8.79 per cent turnout, of 2016.

With lines already building due to distancing and sanitation in the midst of a pandemic, Environment Canada forecasting “one of the biggest storms of winter” for Sunday had even more people rushing to malls across the city on Wednesday and Thursday.

“I expected it to be a quick in-out, that’s why I came,” one voter who only identified himself as Fred said from the back of the line at Market Mall on Wednesday. “But I’m here now, I might as well just hang out. I like my vote to count, so I’ll stick it out.”

Things weren’t much better at Lawson Heights Mall.

“I walked in, saw the line and walked out,” another voter in line said when he saw how many people were waiting.

The situation didn’t improve Thursday as even more people went to vote, presumably to avoid the aftermath of Sunday’s snowstorm.

Long lines at all polling locations currently, stay tuned for updates and let us know how the lines are looking today! https://t.co/FKaXZx2biI

— charlieclarkyxe (@charlieclarkyxe) November 5, 2020

Wednesday’s line at Market Mall was taking anywhere between 45 minutes and an hour, according to patrons and workers. It was taking up to 90 minutes to get to the front of the lines on Thursday.

The majority of people were waiting patiently to vote, saying eight months of living in a pandemic has made lines and wait times commonplace. People were also understanding the pressure workers were under.

“I think it’s being dealt with as expeditiously as it could be with the circumstances as they are,” Fred said.

Mail-in ballots also saw a surge in popularity this year.

As originally reported by Global News’ Nathaniel Dove, 26 per cent of online applications to vote by mail were rejected for the upcoming election, according to the city.

Nearly 4,500 of the roughly 17,000 applications were denied, according to an email from City of Saskatoon returning officer Scott Bastian.

This election marks the first time Saskatoon has implemented online mail-in applications.

Dove also reported the reviewing process was taking longer than expected as “some voters have not had a smooth online application experience.”

People who were rejected or are unable to meet the 8 p.m. deadline on Monday could either drop off their ballots at a specified location, use advance polls or vote on Monday.

Polling stations also had problems to deal with. According to an email obtained by CKOM from Bastian to candidates running in the upcoming election, workers were backing out due to COVID-19 concerns.

“This creates staffing challenges, moving people around, or hiring and training on short notice,” Bastian said in the email. “I anticipate more will back out due to weather concerns this weekend.”

The polls are to close on Monday.