MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

 To vote in an RM election in Saskatchewan, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen;
• be at least 18 years of age and one of the following:
  1. have lived in the RM (or land now in the RM) for at least three consecutive months immediately preceding the day of the election;
  2. be the registered owner of property in the RM (or land now in the RM);
  3. be the assessed person with respect to property situated in the RM (or property now in the RM, refer to Section 207 of The Act);
  4. be the occupant of a trailer or mobile home in the municipality (or land now situated in the municipality) that is object of a permit required (refer to Section 306 of The Act);
  5. be the spouse of an eligible voter mentioned in a, b or c; or
  6. be the chief executive officer of a duly incorporated co-operative, corporation or religious association that is assessed on the last revised assessment roll with respect to property in the RM that is not exempt from taxation.

Where an RM is divided into divisions, each voter is entitled to vote for reeve and one division councillor. The division a person is eligible to vote is determined by the first applicable clause as listed above in points a to f. For example, a person who lives in Division 3 but is the registered owner of property located in Division 4 will vote for the councillor in Division 3 and the reeve.

 Regardless of which division you qualify to vote in, you are also eligible to vote for the Reeve. 

 Where an RM is separated by divisions, each voter is entitled to vote for the reeve and for one division councillor. The administrator must notify voters of the division they are entitled to vote by indicating the division number on the assessment notice indicating the division number on the tax notice.

The division where a person is eligible to vote is determined by the first applicable clause:

1. The division where the voter resides;

2. The division where the voter owns assessed property; or

3. The division where the voter holds a permit as the occupant of a trailer or mobile home.

If a voter owns assessed property in more than one division, but does not live in the municipality, they are eligible to vote in the division where they have the highest total assessment. If the total assessment is equal, the person votes in the lowest numbered division. The voter does have the option to designate one of those divisions as the division in which they wish to vote by providing written notice to the administrator on or before the first of September in any year and is bound by the notice so long as they have property in those same divisions.

Where a voter has property in one division and their spouse has property in another division, either spouse may designate one of those divisions as the division in which they wish to vote by providing written notice to the administrator on or before the first of September in any year. Both persons are bound by the notice so long as they have property in those same divisions. Remember, this can only be done if a voter does not reside in the RM.

A person is eligible to be nominated as a candidate in a rural municipal election and hold office as a member of council if the person:

1. Is at least 18 years of age on the day of the election
2. Is not disqualified pursuant to any Act
3. Is a Canadian citizen at the time that he or she submits the nomination forms
4. Has resided in Saskatchewan for at least six (6) consecutive months immediately preceding the date on which he or she submitted the nomination forms
5.  Resides in Saskatchewan
6. Is eligible to vote in the Rural Municipality 

Citizens expect integrity in the decisions and day-to-day operations of their public institutions and elected officials at all levels — including municipal governments and municipal officials. Identifying, addressing and managing conflicts of interest are key to good governance and maintaining the public’s trust and confidence in their public institutions. The province has strengthened municipal legislation to help municipalities ensure proper policies, procedures and practices are in place.

Conflict of interest provisions are found in Part VII of The Municipalities Act, Part VII of The Cities Act, or Part VII of The Northern Municipalities Act, 2010. It is important to recognize that the legislation regarding conflict of interest is not the only word on the matter. There is a great deal of common law regarding conflict of interest and the conduct of elected officials in potential conflict situations that may apply if legislation does not fully address the matter.

A conflict of interest occurs when a person in public life is in a position where a private interest may, or may appear to conflict with his or her role as a municipal council member. Conflict of interest provisions recognize that the judgement of even the most well-meaning person may be impaired when their own interests or the interests of someone close to them are affected. Conflict of interest provisions exist because council members must make decisions in the best interest of the municipality first and foremost.