More than 11,000 Saskatchewan residents are eligible to vote in the upcoming NDP leadership contest.
The deadline to buy a membership was Jan. 25. The party said the number was up from 8,000 last year.
However, there are 3,000 fewer voters than there were during the 2009 leadership convention that elected Dwain Lingenfelter.
And the numbers are well off the 40,000 of 20 years ago.
Party president Cory Oxelgren said he is encouraged by the number of young people who have recently joined the party.
“I’m particularly excited by the fact that membership in the Young New Democrats has increased by more than 350 percent,” he said.
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He also said memberships have come in from around the province.
A series of leadership debates with the four candidates — Cam Broten, Ryan Meili, Erin Weir and Trent Wotherspoon — concludes Feb. 16 in Saskatoon.
The final vote will be held March 9 during the Saskatoon convention.
Members can vote by preferential ballot in advance by mail, phone or online through a link on the party website that was expected to go live Feb. 4.
They can also vote in person, by phone or online in real time during the convention.
John Nilson, a Regina MLA, has been serving as interim leader. Broten and Wotherspoon already have seats in the legislature.
