When will we see results in the Saskatchewan ridings too close to call on election night?

Pratyush Dayal | CBC News | Posted: October 29, 2024 12:00 PM | Last Updated: October 29

Sask. Party to form majority government, but races remains tight in 7 ridings

Image | Sask Elxn 20241029

Caption: Scott Moe speaks to media in Shellbrook, Sask., early Tuesday morning after his party won its fifth consecutive majority government in the Saskatchewan provincial election. (Liam Richards/The Canadian Press)

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The Sask. Party is leading or projected to be elected in 32 ridings — clearing its way to a majority government — but the full results of the 2024 provincial election in Saskatchewan may not be known for a few more days, with seven close races still to be decided.

As of 1 a.m. CST Tuesday, the Sask. Party was leading or elected in 35 seats to the NDP's 26. In Saskatchewan, 31 seats are required to form a majority government.

The win is the Saskatchewan Party's fifth consecutive majority government — a streak not seen since Tommy Douglas led the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation party to five straight majorities in the province from 1944 to 1961.

CBC News has not yet projected the winners of seven close ridings and mail-in ballots are not scheduled to be counted until Wednesday. The NDP is currently leading in four of those ridings to the Sask. Party's three.

WATCH | How CBC's decision desk 'calls' an election:

Media Video | How CBC's decision desk 'calls' an election

Caption: How does the CBC make projections in an election? Well, let’s go behind the scenes and find out what goes into calls and managing coverage on election night. The team works hard to ensure that results are brought to you accurately every time.

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Why don't we know?

In those ridings, the margin between the leading and second-place candidates is smaller than the number of mail-in votes still to be counted.

Vote-by-mail ballots returned by Oct. 26 will be counted on Oct. 30.

Any vote-by-mail ballots returned between Oct. 27 and Nov. 7 will be part of the final count on Nov. 9, along with votes from people who were in hospital or displaced.

Saskatchewan Party wins 5th consecutive majority government

Too close to call

Here's a breakdown of the remaining races and how many vote-by-mail applications were approved in each:

Saskatoon Westview is one of the closest races, with Sask. Party incumbent David Buckingham leading by 31 votes against the NDP's April ChiefCalf. There were 484 people approved to vote by mail in total in the riding, with 291 ballots returned by Oct. 26.
In Saskatoon- Silverspring, NDP's Hugh Gordon is leading Sask. Party incumbent Paul Merriman, the former minister responsible for Saskatchewan corrections, policing and public safety, by 258 votes. The riding had 917 approved mail-in ballots, with 606 returned by Oct. 26.
In Saskatoon Southeast, the NDP's Brittney Senger is leading by 292 votes against the Sask. Party's John Owojori. There were 484 approved mail-in ballots, with 291 returned by Oct. 26.
In Saskatoon Chief Mistawasis, the NDP's Don McBean leads by 377 votes against the Sask. Party's Parminder Singh. There were 894 approved mail-in ballots, with 552 returned by Oct. 26.
Saskatoon Willowgrove sees the Sask. Party's incumbent Ken Cheveldayoff, who has been a cabinet minister in the governments of both Brad Wall and Scott Moe, leading by 255 votes over the NDP's Alana Wakula. The riding had 1085 approved mail-in ballots, with 660 returned by Oct. 26.
In Regina, the NDP's Brent Blakley holds a 355-vote lead against Sask. Party incumbent and former minister Christine Tell. The riding has 1165 approved mail-in ballots, with 721 returned by Oct. 26.
Lastly, Sask. Party incumbent Alana Ross leads by 125 votes in Prince Albert Northcote over the NDP's Nicole Rancourt. There are 324 approved mail-in ballots, with 197 returned by Oct. 26.

3 key takeaways from the Saskatchewan provincial election