Writs of election, officers
16(1)Upon receipt of a certified copy of the Order in Council ordering an election, the Chief Electoral Officer shall
(a)
issue a writ or writs in accordance with the Order,
(b)
forthwith forward the writs by registered mail to the returning officers for the electoral districts in which members are to be elected, and
(c)
cause notice of the issue of the writs to be published in
The Royal Gazette.
16(2)On receiving the writ of election, the returning officer shall endorse on the writ the date it is received and, without delay, shall send an acknowledgment of receipt to the Chief Electoral Officer.
16(2.1)The returning officer shall open one or more offices in convenient places in the electoral district where the electors may have recourse to him or her, which offices shall be opened on the following days:
(a)
for a scheduled general election, on a day not more than 15 days before the writ of election is to be issued; and
(b)
for all other elections, without delay on receiving the writ or on an earlier day as directed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
16(2.2)The returning officer shall maintain an office opened in accordance with subsection (2.1) throughout the election, which office shall have the operating hours directed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
16(3)Either the returning officer or the election clerk shall remain continuously on duty in such office during the hours that the polls are open.
1967, c.9, s.16; 1998, c.32, s.10; 2006, c.6, s.5; 2010, c.6, s.9