NDP candidate in Saskatoon briefly violates Elections Act with contest

An NDP candidate in Saskatoon was "educated" on the province's Elections Act this morning, after a contest on Jesse Todd's political Facebook page was found to violate the province's election law. 

The post was brought to the attention of media Tuesday by the Saskatchewan Party. Later in the day, the province's independent election management body, Elections Saskatchewan, weighed in.

The post on Jesse Todd's campaign page asked people to send him photographs of themselves with a lawn sign or on their way to vote in advanced polls, which opened Tuesday.

In return, Todd, who's running in Saskatoon Eastview, said he would enter those people in a draw for dinner and a movie.

In a message to the media, the Saskatchewan Party said Section 192 of the Elections Act prohibits "bribery", which the act defines as giving someone money or other goods or services in order to persuade or reward them for voting. 

Officials with Elections Saskatchewan say they "educated" the candidate and the post was taken down quickly.

It says it considers the matter resolved.

The NDP says the local campaign team was trying to generate some excitement and didn't believe it was doing anything wrong.

However, because concerns were raised and to avoid confusion, the post was taken down, Erin Morrison said.

"We don't believe there was actually any inducement to vote, because you didn't have to actually vote — just have a lawn sign or say you were voting if you already were doing that," Morrison said in a written statement.

Election day is April 4.