Answers to some frequently asked questions from electors and candidates.
Elections Newfoundland and Labrador has 14 permanent staff members. The office is organized in the following way:
Each electoral district has what is called a 'Returning Office'. This office coordinates the election from the district level. Each Returning Office is staffed with a Returning Officer (who is like the district election manager), an Election Clerk (who is like the district election assistant manager) and a Special Ballot Officer (this person coordinates Special Ballot voting within the district).
The Elections Act, 1991 sets out election laws.
The office maintains a constant state of readiness and must ensure that all those involved in the electoral process (i.e. candidates, parties and electors) are aware of their rights and obligations under the law. The office has a full contingent of permanent staff, temporary staff, field staff, Returning Officers, Election Clerks and Special Ballot Officers.
The Chief Electoral Officer must enforce on the part of election officers fairness, impartiality and compliance with the Act. He or she must also exercise general direction and supervision over the administrative conduct of elections. Read more on the 'About Us' page.
Immediately following an election, election officials and polling station rental fees are paid. The services provided by Elections Newfoundland and Labrador must be available between electoral events and the staff (both at headquarters and in the field) are trained and ready at any time for an election. The voters list is continually updated, reports are published and submitted to the House of Assembly, election expenses are reimbursed, accounts are audited, and all procedures and processes are evaluated.
In order to vote, an elector must be:
There is a feature on the Elections Newfoundland and Labrador website that allows electors to search for their own electoral district. To access that feature, click here.
Additionally, one of Elections Newfoundland and Labrador's major divisions is the Voter Registry. This division maintains the voters list and is able to search for elector information within an electronic system. In order to find out which district you are in, you may also call Elections Newfoundland and Labrador at (1-877) 729-7987 to speak to a Voter Registry Coordinator.
In order to add your name to the voters list, you can simply call the Voter Registry division at Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Please note that during elections there are deadlines to be added to the list. This will not affect your ability to vote, but it will require you to swear an oath at the polling station and present identification.
Yes, you can still vote if your name is not on the voters list. You will, however, be required to swear an oath (swearing that you are who you say you are) and present identification that shows your name, address and signature.
It is also possible for a Deputy Returning Officer or Poll Clerk who is working at the polling station to visibly identify an elector (if he or she knows the individual and can vouch that he or she is who they claim to be).
Elections Newfoundland and Labrador receives elector updates from other sources, like Elections Canada. Your information may have already been updated in our system, but if not, you will be required to swear an oath to verify your change of name and/or address.
Yes, there are specific deadlines in place for each election and by-election. It is important to contact Elections Newfoundland and Labrador to find out what these deadlines are, but if you happen to miss the deadline to be added to the voters list prior to an election you may still vote at the advance poll or the regular poll. In order to do so, you will have to swear an oath and present appropriate identification.
There are electronic versions of the district maps on the Elections Newfoundland and Labrador website. To view the maps, click here.
Paper copies of the electoral district maps are available for a fee from the Department of Environment and Conservation. They are located in the Howley Building on Higgins Line, St. John's, NL. Their telephone number is (709) 729-3305.
Elections Newfoundland and Labrador coordinates election operations for the whole province from its headquarters in St. John's. There is a Returning Office established within each electoral district that manages the election operation for the district.
Each Returning Office has a Returning Officer (who is like the district Election Manager), an Election Clerk (who is like the district Assistant Election Manager) and a Special Ballot Officer (who coordinates Special Ballot voting for the district). These staff members are there to meet the needs of electors at the district level and do the hiring and training for all temporary field staff who work in the district polling stations.
The position of Returning Officer is a continuous position which is filled by the same person for each election and by-election until he or she resigns or is removed from the position. This position is written in legislation. When a vacancy occurs, the job is posted in local newspapers and on the Elections Newfoundland and Labrador website and qualified applicants are interviewed.
In order to be considered for employment, potential Returning Officers must meet the basic qualifications of an elector and must live within the electoral district where the vacancy exists. All Returning Officer training is conducted by Elections Newfoundland and Labrador staff.
The Returning Officer is responsible for hiring a qualified Election Clerk and a qualified Special Ballot Officer. These individuals must also meet the basic qualifications of an elector.
Returning Officers, Election Clerks and Special Ballot Officers are not permitted to be members of any political party and are, in fact, not to have any political associations within 60 days before polling day. This includes being in the service of a candidate or being employed by a candidate or his or her scrutineer (or someone else who is working on behalf or in the interest of a candidate).
District Returning Officers are responsible for appointing election workers within their respective districts. During an election or by-election, resumes can be forwarded to the Returning Officer by hand-delivery or by mail. Also, from time to time, Elections Newfoundland and Labrador will provide an employment application form on this website where interested individuals can apply for employment.
Outside of an electoral event, resumes can be forwarded to Elections Newfoundland and Labrador to be added to district files for upcoming employment opportunities.
There are three methods of voting available to electors: 1. Advance Voting 2. Regular Poll Voting 3. Special Ballot Voting
Advance polls are usually open on the Tuesday before regular polling is scheduled to take place. For example, for the 2011 Provincial General Election, advance polls were open on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. NST.
Regular poll voting is the day set for the election or by-election. For example, for the 2011 Provincial General Election, regular polls were open on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. NST.
Special Ballot voting is an alternative voting method available to electors who feel they will be unable to vote in person at the advance or regular polls. According to the Elections Act, 1991, this method of voting can be available to electors up to four weeks prior to the election or by-election being called.
Interested electors must apply to vote by Special Ballot and, once an application is approved, a Special Ballot kit is issued. This kit consists of a blank ballot and a series of envelopes designed to protect the secrecy of the elector's vote. Special Ballots are blank because Special Ballot voting is open prior to Official Nomination day on the election calendar. Therefore, electors must print either the party name, the potential candidate's name (if they know it) or both.
Elections Newfoundland and Labrador coordinates Special Ballot voting at personal care homes and hospitals around the province to facilitate voting for those who are unable to get out to the polls. There are important deadlines to adhere to when voting by Special Ballot and these dates will be communicated to electors who apply.
Elections Newfoundland and Labrador created a Special Ballot voting pamphlet for the 2011 Provincial General Election. It includes information on important deadlines and the application process. To view the pamphlet, click here.
Additionally, during a Provincial General Election, there are Designated Special Ballot offices established in communities around the province that meet certain criteria. Usually, these offices must be 100 kilometers from the district Returning Office with a population of over 500 people.
During an election or by-election, appointed and sworn officials from Elections Newfoundland and Labrador visit hospitals and personal care homes/long-term care facilities to help facilitate the vote with those people who will be unable to vote in person at the advance or regular polls. Voting at hospitals and personal care homes is done by Special Ballot.
People who are temporarily away from the province and who wish to vote in an election must do so by Special Ballot voting, as well.
Special Ballot applications can be obtained from:
Before students vote, they should determine their "ordinary residence". According to the Elections Act, 1991, ordinary residence is "that place which [the elector] has his or her principal or only residence, home, lodging or habitation". A person may not have more than one residence at a time.
Once a student has determined his or her ordinary residence, voting can take place by one of three methods:
1. Advance VotingAdvance polls are usually open on the Tuesday before regular polling is scheduled to take place. For example, for the 2011 Provincial General Election, advance polls were open on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. NST.
Regular poll voting is the day set for the election or by-election. For example, for the 2011 Provincial General Election, regular polls were open on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. NST.
Special Ballot voting is an alternative voting method available to electors who feel they will be unable to vote in person at the advance or regular polls. This voting method is available to students who will be away from their electoral district of ordinary residence.
Students may apply for a Special Ballot and, at the time of application, appropriate identification must be presented which shows the student's name, address and signature.
The hours of polling are the same on advance poll day and election day - polls are open from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. NST.
In accordance with the Elections Act, 1991, the Chief Electoral Office will retain the ballot boxes, sealed, for one year following the provincial election in which they were used. After this time has passed, or unless otherwise directed by order of a judge, the Chief Electoral Office will destroy all those documents, ballots, papers contained in the ballot boxes except the poll books, voters list and all oaths.
The Chief Electoral Office may, for the purpose of revising and correcting the Permanent List of Electors, open a sealed ballot box in the presence of the Clerk of the House of Assembly and may remove such contents. They are to ensure that the contents are used or kept in a secure place, and shall reseal the opened ballot box with a numbered seal and make a record of the number on the seal used and furnish the Clerk of the House of Assembly with a copy of the record.
Elections Newfoundland and Labrador has created a Campaign Advertising pamphlet to provide candidates and media with information outlining political advertising regulations. To view the pamphlet, click here.
There are currently no limits but candidates may not solicit, collect or accept funds until they are registered with the Chief Electoral Office and are officially nominated.
There are no limits on third-party involvement, but third-party spending may be attributed to an individual candidate if done with the knowledge and consent of the candidate.
For 2011, candidates can spend up to $4.083 per each eligible voter in their district. Elections Newfoundland and Labrador establishes the number of eligible voters on the date the writ is dropped. You can determine the maximum possible amount to spend on a campaign in a particular electoral district by multiplying the above noted factor ($4.083) by the number of eligible voters on the voters list the day the writ for an election is issued.
For example, if there are 2400 eligible voters in a district, the candidate can spend a maximum of $9,382.00 ($4.083 x 2400 rounded).
A complaint must be filed in writing to the Chief Electoral Officer. All complaints should include dates, locations, names of those involved, and the name, address and telephone number of the person making the complaint.
Elections Newfoundland and Labrador maintains responsibility for the overall electoral process. It does not participate or control party nominations or party elections. Any complaints about party processes should be directed to the chairperson of the party.
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