Elections Saskatchewan confirms voters will go to polls April 4

A spring date was likely and now it's official Saskatchewan's provincial election will be held April 4, 2016.

Saskatchewan has fixed dates for provincial elections every four years and as a result, Nov. 2 was the original date.

However, because the provincial campaign period was expected to overlap with the federal campaign, it hadlong been believed that provincial voters would go to the polls next spring, instead.

The Legislative Assembly Act, 2007 states that in the event of an overlap between a federal and provincial election, the provincial election date moves to the first Monday in April of the following year.

That became official on Sunday when Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the federal election would indeed be held on Oct. 19, Elections Saskatchewan says.

There will be 61 constituencies up for grabs next spring, three more than 2011.

Currently, the legislative assembly includes 49 Saskatchewan Party members and nine New Democrats.

Length of campaign

Saskatchewan's election law also addresses the length of the campaign period leading up to voting day. It calls for a minimum of 27 days and a maximum of 34 daysforofficial campaigning.

The selection of the start date, between 27 and 34 days, is open to the government.