Nova Scotia Votes
LEGAL INFORMATION TOPICS
On Tuesday June 9 2009 Nova Scotians will vote in a provincial election. How old do you have to be to vote in Nova Scotia? Do you have to be a Canadian citizen to vote? How do you get on the voters list? Where do you vote? What law governs elections in Nova Scotia? Can you vote if you're not in Nova Scotia on Election Day? Can you get time off work to vote?
The rules for provincial elections are found in Nova Scotia’s Elections Act.
You have the right to vote in a Nova Scotia election if you are:
- a Canadian citizen who is at least 18 years old on or before election day; and
- a Nova Scotia resident, which means you must have lived in Nova Scotia for at least the past 6 months.
If you have questions about whether you are eligible to vote you should contact Elections Nova Scotia (see the contact information at the bottom of this page).
If you are already on the voters list (‘List of Electors’) you should get a voter information card in the mail telling you where, when and how you can vote. If you do not get a voter information card by May 25 and you want to check whether you are on the voters list, or to get on the voters list, contact your electoral district’s returning officer - click here to find your electoral district. Although you do not need identification to vote in Nova Scotia, you will need to provide identification in order to get your name on the voters list. (What ID will I need? Click here to find out).
There are several ways to vote:
- Advance poll
- Special poll
- Write-in ballot (in person at your local returning office, or by mail)
- Ordinary poll on June 9 (Election Day)
Advance polls are held for Nova Scotians who will be away on Election Day. Advance polls for the upcoming election are on Friday June 5 and Saturday June 6, and the polls are open from 10 am to 8 pm. Contact your local returning office to find out where advance polls will be held in your district.
If you cannot vote at an Advance poll or on Election Day, you can vote at a Special poll. Special polls will be open from Thursday May 28 to Wednesday June 3 (closed Sunday May 31), from 12 noon to 8 pm. Contact your local returning office for further information.
You can vote by Write-in ballot if you cannot vote at an Advance poll, Special poll or on Election Day because you are ill, disabled, you will be away from Nova Scotia, or for some other reason. The Write-in ballot may be particularly useful for students (click here for more student voting information). You must apply to your local returning office to be able to vote by Write-in ballot. The application deadlines for Write-in ballots are:
- In person - May 27 by 8 pm;
- By mail - May 30 by 8 pm;
- By agent - June 6 by 8 pm.
Finally, ordinary polls will be open on Election Day from 8 am to 7 pm. The Elections Act says that most employees are entitled to 3 consecutive hours while the polls are open in order to vote. For example, if you normally work from 9 am to 5 pm, you might leave work at 4 pm, which will give you 3 full hours within which to vote. You should speak with your employer if you need time off work to vote, as it must be taken at a time that is convenient for your employer.
For more information contact Elections Nova Scotia at 424-8584 or 1 800 565-1504 (toll free);
TTY: 424-7475 or toll-free TTY: 1 866 774-7074,
or visit www.electionsnovascotia.ns.ca
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