In an unfortunate twist of events, some races were so close that the provincial election results could not be finalized until weeks after November 7th. The final results held the previous counts of 38 Sask Party and 20 NDP though. Hagel, a Moose Jaw MLA and Minister last term, was defeated. Maynard Sontag was also defeated.
I’ve often boasted that in Canada you know who wins an election the same night as the vote count (unlike the USA, where courts decided the 2000 result). However, this time Elections Saskatchewan didn’t have its act together, and had to wait on absentee ballots that in my opinion should be available to be counted on election night, or at worst the next day.
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Sean S. | 21-Nov-07 at 1:21 pm | Permalink
there will be a judical recount in Meadow Lake, the NDP has indicated it will file for one this week.
Saskboy | 21-Nov-07 at 3:24 pm | Permalink
Thanks for the update Sean.
Saskboy | 21-Nov-07 at 3:26 pm | Permalink
I think Murray overstated the difference in votes by twice
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/columnists/story.html?id=783a2c0a-8f85-4840-8f95-2855e4b4e1ad
Because really, if half of the “difference” people who voted for the Sask Party, switched to NDP, their numbers would count for double. About 18 people decided the election in some ridings.
Dr_Groove | 22-Nov-07 at 9:35 am | Permalink
There’s a very good reason absentee ballots are counted so late. People who receive the ballots have until 8 pm on election day to put their ballots in the mail and have them postmarked.
The argument that Canada is better than the US at counting ballots was always a silly one. The problem with Bush/Gore in 2000 was not a systemic problem - it was simply due to the extremely close vote. In such cases, it is better to drag out the process and ensure that every ballot is properly counted.
In almost every election anywhere, there are close races where the winner is not immediately determined. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Better to take the necessary time and ensure you have the right result than to speed things up and possibly overlook the few ballots that may make a difference.
Saskboy | 22-Nov-07 at 8:40 pm | Permalink
Doc Groove, thanks for the info about the SK absentee ballots.
I have to disagree with you about Florida though, since it WAS a systematic problem. There shouldn’t have been a “hanging chad” issue with the ballots. Canada has 30 million people and we count all of our ballots in the same night, and the spoiled/rejected count is very low. Admittedly the American ballots are longer, but the people who decided the election were not polling staff, it was the judiciary who decided not to bother counting properly.