Acts and Regulations

E-3 - Elections Act

Full text
Current to 1 January 2024
CHAPTER E-3
Elections Act
INTERPRETATION
Application of Act
1This Act governs every election of a member or members of the Legislative Assembly.
1967, c.9, s.1
Definitions
2In this Act
“advance poll” means a poll held on the day or days fixed in accordance with paragraph 13(2)(e);(scrutin par anticipation)
“advisory committee” means the advisory committee on the electoral process established under section 154;(comité consultatif)
“agent” Repealed: 1980, c.17, s.1
“appointed official” Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.1
“ballot” means a ballot paper that has been marked by an elector and deposited in the ballot box;(bulletin)
“by-election” means an election other than a general election;(élection partielle)
“candidate” means a person whose nomination paper has been accepted by the returning officer, or who, after the issue of a writ for an election is declared by himself or by any others with his consent to be a candidate;(candidat)
“chief agent” means the individual registered as chief agent of a registered political party pursuant to section 138;(agent principal)
“contribution” means contribution as defined in the Political Process Financing Act;(contribution)
“deputy official representative” means an individual registered as a deputy official representative pursuant to section 137;(répresentant officiel adjoint)
“district association” means an association of persons supporting a political party in an electoral district;(association de circonscription)
“during an election” , or “at an election” , or “through an election” , or “an election period” means the period commencing with the issue of a writ for an election and ending when the candidate or candidates have been returned as elected;(durant une élection), (à l’élection), (durant toute l’élection) ou (une période électorale)
“election” means an election of a member or members to serve in the Legislative Assembly;(élection)
“election documents” or “election papers” Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.1
“election officer” includes the Chief Electoral Officer, the Assistant Electoral Officers and every returning officer, election clerk, revision officer, poll supervisor, voters list officer, ballot issuing officer, ballot counting officer, poll revision officer, vote tabulation machine officer, special voting officer, technical support officer, constable and any other person having any duty to perform under this Act;(membre du personnel électoral)
“elector” means(électeur)
(a) a person who is qualified to vote at an election under this Act, whether or not his or her name is on the register of electors or on a list of electors, or
(b) a person who, based on information available under this Act, the Chief Electoral Officer has reason to believe is qualified to vote at an election under this Act, unless and until satisfactory evidence to the contrary is made available to the Chief Electoral Officer or any returning officer;
“electoral district” means an electoral district established by section 4;(circonscription électorale)
“electoral district agent” means an individual registered as electoral district agent of a registered political party pursuant to section 138;(agent de circonscription)
“expenditure” means expenditure as defined in the Political Process Financing Act;(dépenses)
“family associate” means the spouse of the candidate and the parent, child, brother or sister of the candidate or of the spouse of the candidate;(proche parent)
“final list of electors” Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.1
“form” Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.1
“holiday” means a holiday as defined in the Interpretation Act;(jour férié)
“independent candidate” means a candidate who(candidat indépendant)
(a) is not a candidate of a recognized party, or
(b) does not comply with subsection 51(3);
“leadership contestant” means an individual who is seeking the leadership of a registered political party;(candidat à la direction)
“list of electors” means a preliminary list of electors, a revised list of electors, an official list of electors or a final list of electors;(liste électorale)
“member” means a member of the Legislative Assembly;(député)
“metal or plastic seal” Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.1
“Minister” Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.1
“mobile polling station” Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.1
“nomination contestant” means an individual who is seeking the nomination as a candidate of a registered political party in an electoral district;(candidat à l’investiture)
“nomination day” or “day of nomination” means the day upon which nominations close;(jour de la déclaration) ou (jour des déclarations)
“oath” includes affirmation and statutory declaration;(serment)
“official agent” means an individual registered as an official agent pursuant to section 138;(agent officiel)
“official list of electors” Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.1
“official nomination” or “officially nominated” Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.1
“officially nominated” means the filing of a nomination paper and deposit by or for a candidate with the returning officer at any time between the day of proclamation and the close of nominations;(officiellement déclaré)
“official representative” means an individual registered as an official representative of a registered political party, a registered district association, a registered independent candidate, a registered leadership contestant or a registered nomination contestant pursuant to section 137 or an individual who a leadership contestant or a nomination contestant intends to register as an official representative pursuant to section 137;(représentant officiel)
“person” Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.1
“poll book” Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.1
“polling day” , “day of polling” or “ordinary polling day” Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.1
“polling day” or “ordinary polling day” means the day fixed in accordance with paragraph 13(2)(d) as the ordinary polling day for an election;(jour du scrutin)ou(jour ordinaire du scrutin)
“polling division” means any division, subdivision, district, sub-district or territorial area fixed under section 12, for which a list of electors shall be prepared and for which one or more polling stations shall be established for the taking of the vote on polling day;(section de vote)
“polling station” means a building, or a portion of a building, secured by a returning officer for the taking of the votes of electors on the ordinary polling day or an advance polling day;(bureau de scrutin)
“preliminary list of electors” means a list of electors prepared in accordance with section 20;(liste électorale préliminaire)
“proper identification” means at least one document of identification, excluding financial cards and credit cards, which must include the person’s name, address and signature;(preuve d’identité appropriée)
“psychiatric facility” means a psychiatric facility listed in Schedule A of New Brunswick Regulation 94-33 under the Mental Health Act;(établissement psychiatrique)
“public hospital” Repealed: 2006, c.6, s.1
“recognized party” means any registered party that at a general election has, or at the general election preceding a by-election had, not less than ten candidates officially nominated;(parti reconnu)
“registered district association” means a district association that has been registered pursuant to section 135;(association de circonscription enregistrée)
“registered independent candidate” means an individual registered pursuant to section 136;(candidat indépendant enregistré)
“registered leadership contestant” means an individual registered pursuant to section 136.1;(candidat à la direction enregistré)
“registered nomination contestant” means an individual registered pursuant to section 136.2;(candidat à l’investiture enregistré)
“registered political party” means a political party that has been registered pursuant to section 133;(parti politique enregistré)
“register of electors” means the register established under section 20.1;(registre des électeurs)
“rejected ballot paper” Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.1
“rejected ballot” means a ballot that at the close of the poll(bulletin de vote rejeté)
(a) in the case of a ballot to be counted by hand, has been found in the ballot box unmarked or so improperly marked that it cannot be counted, or
(b) in the case of a ballot to be counted by a vote tabulation machine, has been found in the ballot box unmarked or so improperly marked that the machine was unable to count it;
“revisal district” Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.1
“revising agent” Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.1
“revising officer” Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.1
“rural polling division” Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.1
“scheduled general election” means a provincial general election held in accordance with the schedule established in subsection 3(4) of the Legislative Assembly Act;(élections générales programmées)
“scrutineer” means an agent appointed in writing to represent a recognized party or an independent candidate at a polling station;(représentant au scrutin)
“special ballot poll book” means the book, in the form prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer, in which is written the name of a person voting by special ballot paper issued under section 87.61;(registre du scrutin spécial)
“spoiled ballot paper” means a ballot paper that has not been deposited in a ballot box for one of the following reasons:(bulletin de vote détérioré)
(a) an election officer has found the ballot paper to be soiled or improperly printed;
(b) an elector has spoiled the ballot paper in marking it and handed it back to an election officer in exchange for another ballot paper;
(c) special voting officers have determined that the certificate envelope containing the ballot paper does not fulfil the requirements of subsection 87.62(4); or
(d) the certificate envelope containing the ballot paper has been dealt with under subsection 87.62(7);
“spouse” means persons who are married to each other and persons, not being married to each other, who have cohabited continuously for a period of two years and have cohabited within the preceding year;(conjoint)
“Supervisor” Repealed: 2007, c.55, s.1
“treatment centre” means a nursing home, special care home, assisted living facility, psychiatric facility, extended care unit in a public hospital or any other residential facility operated for the purpose of the care and treatment of ten or more senior citizens or ten or more persons having a physical or mental disability;(centre de traitement)
“urban polling division” Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.1
“voter” means a person who votes at an election;(votant)
“voting” or “to vote” means voting or to vote at an election;(vote) ou (voter)
“writ” means the document addressed by the Chief Electoral Officer to a returning officer requiring the holding of an election;(bref)
“write-in ballot poll book” Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.1
1967, c.9, s.2; 1973, c.74, s.29; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.1; 1978, c.17, s.1; 1978, c.D-11.2, s.18; 1980, c.17, s.1; 1982, c.3, s.16; 1985, c.45, s.1; 1986, c.8, s.33; 1989, c.55, s.28; 1991, c.48, s.2; 1992, c.2, s.14; 1992, c.52, s.9; 1994, c.47, s.1; 1996, c.79, s.5; 1997, c.53, s.1; 1998, c.32, s.1; 2006, c.6, s.1; 2007, c.55, s.1; 2010, c.6, s.1; 2015, c.5, s.2; 2015, c.17, s.1
Calculation of time
3All times mentioned in this Act shall be reckoned in accordance with the Time Definition Act.
1967, c.9, s.3
ELECTORAL DISTRICTS
Electoral districts
4The Province is divided into electoral districts as described in a regulation made under section 20 of the Electoral Boundaries and Representation Act, and each electoral district is entitled to return one member.
1967, c.9, s.4; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.1; 2005, c.E-3.5, s.22; 2015, c.5, s.2
Transitional provision
4.1Despite section 4, if a regulation under section 20 of the Electoral Boundaries and Representation Act is made but not in force, district associations for each electoral district described in the regulation may be registered under section 135 in contemplation of the coming into force of the regulation.
2012, c.47, s.1; 2015, c.5, s.2
CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER
Chief Electoral Officer, appointment and duties of
5(1)Subject to subsections (1.1) to (1.13), the Chief Electoral Officer shall be appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly.
5(1.1)Before an appointment is made under subsection (1), a selection committee shall be established for the purpose of identifying persons as potential candidates to be appointed Chief Electoral Officer.
5(1.11)The selection committee shall be composed of
(a) the Clerk of the Executive Council or a person designated by the Clerk of the Executive Council,
(b) the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly or a person designated by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly,
(c) a member of the judiciary, and
(d) a member of the university community.
5(1.12)The selection committee shall develop a roster of qualified candidates and submit a list of names of qualified candidates to the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.
5(1.13)The Premier shall consult with the leader of the opposition and the leaders of the other political parties having representation in the Legislative Assembly during the most recent sitting with respect to one or more qualified candidates from the selection committee’s list of qualified candidates.
5(1.2)Subject to subsection (1.3), the Chief Electoral Officer shall hold office for a term of ten years and is not eligible for reappointment.
5(1.3)The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may extend the term of the Chief Electoral Officer for a period of not more than 12 months.
5(1.4)The Chief Electoral Officer shall be paid an annual salary as determined by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council within the deputy head pay plan, and is entitled to receive benefits similar to those received by deputy heads.
5(1.5)The pension plan converted to a shared risk plan in accordance with An Act Respecting Public Service Pensions applies to the Chief Electoral Officer.
5(1.51)The Chief Electoral Officer shall not be a member of the Legislative Assembly and shall not hold any other office of trust or profit, other than his or her office as Chief Electoral Officer, without the prior approval by the Legislative Assembly.
5(1.6)The Chief Electoral Office may resign from office by notice in writing addressed to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly or, if there is no Speaker or the Speaker is absent from the Province, to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.
5(1.7)The Speaker or the Clerk, as the case may be, shall immediately inform the Lieutenant-Governor in Council of the Chief Electoral Officer’s resignation.
5(1.8)The Chief Electoral Officer shall hold office during good behaviour and may only be removed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council for incapacity, neglect of duty or misconduct upon an address in which 2/3 of the members of the Legislative Assembly concur.
5(1.9)The Lieutenant-Governor in Council, upon an address in which a majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly voting concur, may suspend the Chief Electoral Officer, with or without pay, pending an investigation that may lead to removal under subsection (1.8).
5(2)If the Legislature is not in session, a judge of The Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick may, on an application by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, suspend the Chief Electoral Officer, with or without pay, for incapacity, neglect of duty or misconduct.
5(2.1)If the Lieutenant-Governor in Council makes an application under subsection (2), the practice and procedure of The Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick respecting applications applies.
5(2.2)If a judge of The Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick suspends the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection (2), the judge shall do the following:
(a) appoint an acting Chief Electoral Officer to hold office until the suspension has been dealt with by the Legislative Assembly; and
(b) table a report on the suspension with the Legislative Assembly within ten days after the commencement of the next session of the Legislature.
5(2.3)No suspension under subsection (2) shall continue beyond the end of the next session of the Legislature.
5(2.4)If the Chief Electoral Officer has been suspended under subsection (1.9), the Lieutenant-Governor in Council may appoint an acting Chief Electoral Officer to hold office until the suspension has elapsed.
5(2.5)An acting Chief Electoral Officer, while in office, has the powers and duties of the Chief Electoral Officer and shall be paid such salary or other remuneration and expenses as the Lieutenant-Governor in Council may fix.
5(2.6)The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may appoint an acting Chief Electoral Officer for a term of up to one year if
(a) the office of Chief Electoral Officer becomes vacant during a sitting of the Legislative Assembly, but the Legislative Assembly does not make a recommendation under subsection (1) before the end of the sitting, or
(b) the office of Chief Electoral Officer becomes vacant while the Legislative Assembly is not sitting.
5(2.7)The appointment of an acting Chief Electoral Officer comes to an end when a new Chief Electoral Officer is appointed under subsection (1).
5(2.8)If the Chief Electoral Officer is unable to act because of illness, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council may appoint an acting Chief Electoral Officer, whose appointment comes to an end when the Chief Electoral Officer is again able to act or when the office becomes vacant.
5(2.9)An appointment under subsection (2.2), (2.4), (2.6) or (2.8) shall not impede a person’s subsequent appointment under subsection (1).
5(2.91)The Premier shall consult with the leader of the opposition before an appointment is made under subsection (2.4), (2.6) or (2.8).
5(3)The Chief Electoral Officer is an officer of the Legislative Assembly.
5(3.01)The office of the Chief Electoral Officer shall be known as Elections New Brunswick or Elections N.B.
5(3.1)Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the person holding office as Chief Electoral Officer immediately before the coming into force of this Act shall be deemed to be the Chief Electoral Officer appointed under subsection (1).
5(4)The Chief Electoral Officer shall
(a) exercise general direction and supervision over the administrative conduct of elections, the administration of this Act and the administration of Elections New Brunswick,
(a.1) develop educational and public awareness programs and material with respect to the Province’s electoral process,
(b) enforce on the part of election officers fairness, impartiality and compliance with this Act,
(b.1) designate polling divisions,
(c) issue to election officers such instructions as he deems necessary to ensure effective execution of this Act, and
(d) perform such other duties as are prescribed by or under this Act.
5(4.1)Before entering upon the exercise of his or her duties, the Chief Electoral Officer shall take an oath to well and truly perform the duties of the office.
5(4.2)The Speaker or the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly shall administer the oath referred to in subsection (4.1).
5(5)If during an election it transpires that insufficient time has been allowed or insufficient election officers or polling stations have been provided for the execution of any of the purposes of this Act, by reason of the operation of any provision of this Act or of any mistake or miscalculation or of any unforeseen emergency, the Chief Electoral Officer may, notwithstanding anything in this Act, extend the time for doing any act or acts, increase the number of election officers who have been appointed for the performance of any duty, or increase the number of polling stations, and, generally, the Chief Electoral Officer may adapt the provisions of this Act to the execution of its intent; but in the exercise of this discretion no votes shall be cast before or after the hours fixed by this Act for the opening and closing of the poll nor shall any nomination be received after the time fixed by this Act for the close of nominations.
1967, c.9, s.5; 1980, c.17, s.2; 1998, c.32, s.2; 2005, c.11, s.1; 2007, c.55, s.1; 2013, c.1, s.4; 2013, c.44, s.16; 2014, c.11, s.39; 2023, c.17, s.64
Testing alternative voting methods
5.1(1)Despite any provision of this Act or the regulations, the Chief Electoral Officer may direct the use at a by-election of a procedure, equipment or technology that is different from that required by this Act or the regulations if the procedure, equipment or technology relates to any of the following:
(a) voting;
(b) the counting of votes;
(c) prescribed forms, including the form of ballot papers;
(d) the list of electors;
(e) the duties of election officers;
(f) polling divisions;
(g) polling stations; or
(h) the adaptation of voting procedures to enable electors with disabilities to vote without assistance.
5.1(1.1)A directive may only be issued under subsection (1) if it has been approved by the advisory committee.
5.1(2)A directive of the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection (1) shall describe in detail the procedure, equipment or technology to be used and shall refer to the provisions of this Act or the regulations that will be varied for or will not apply to the by-election.
5.1(3)A by-election shall not be held in accordance with a directive under this section unless the Chief Electoral Officer has done the following at least 60 days before the writ is issued for the by-election:
(a) provided a copy of the directive to each registered political party; and
(b) published the directive on the Elections New Brunswick website.
5.1(4)A by-election held in accordance with a directive under this section is not invalidated by a failure to comply with this Act or the regulations if the non-compliance is authorized by the directive.
5.1(5)Within 4 months after polling day for a by-election held in accordance with a directive under this section, the Chief Electoral Officer shall submit a report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly that includes the following:
(a) information on the procedure, equipment or technology used in accordance with the directive and its effectiveness; and
(b) recommendations with respect to amendments to this Act or the regulations which are required for the purpose of adopting the procedure, equipment or technology used in accordance with the directive.
2010, c.6, s.2
Notice of instructions, directives and other prescribed matters
5.2(1)If, under the authority of this Act, the Chief Electoral Officer issues an instruction or directive or prescribes the use of a procedure with respect to the nomination of candidates, voting procedures or the counting of ballots, he or she shall ensure that the instruction, directive or procedure is published on the Elections New Brunswick website at least 60 days before the writ is issued for an election.
5.2(2)On request, the Chief Electoral Officer shall promptly provide a person with a copy of an instruction, directive or procedure published under subsection (1).
5.2(3)An oath that is prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer for use under this Act shall be published on the Elections New Brunswick website.
5.2(4)The Chief Electoral Officer may modify, replace or supplement an instruction, directive, procedure or oath published on the Elections New Brunswick website if he or she considers it necessary to do so in order to deal with an emergency situation or other circumstance during the election period, which modification, replacement or supplement shall be published as soon as practicable.
5.2(5)The Regulations Act does not apply to an instruction, directive, procedure, oath or other matter prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer under this Act.
2010, c.6, s.2
STAFF OF ELECTIONS NEW BRUNSWICK
2007, c.55, s.1
Staff of Elections New Brunswick
6(1)The Lieutenant-Governor in Council shall appoint two Assistant Electoral Officers to the staff of Elections New Brunswick.
6(2)The Chief Electoral Officer may appoint such assistants, legal counsel, auditors and other employees to the staff of Elections New Brunswick as he or she considers necessary for the efficient carrying out of the powers and duties of the Chief Electoral Officer under this Act.
6(3)The staff of Elections New Brunswick may participate in and receive benefits under any health, life, disability or other insurance or superannuation plan available to employees within the public service, in accordance with the terms upon which the right to participate and receive benefits may from time to time be extended to the staff of Elections New Brunswick.
1967, c.9, s.6; 1998, c.32, s.3; 2007, c.55, s.1; 2013, c.1, s.4
Assistant Electoral Officers
7(1)The Assistant Electoral Officers shall assist the Chief Electoral Officer in the performance of his or her duties.
7(2)In the absence or illness of the Chief Electoral Officer, on the failure of the Chief Electoral Officer to perform the duties of the office or if the office is vacant, the senior Assistant Electoral Officer shall act in the place of the Chief Electoral Officer and, while so acting, possesses the powers of and shall perform the duties of the Chief Electoral Officer.
7(3)For the purposes of subsection (2), the senior Assistant Electoral Officer is the Assistant Electoral Officer who has been appointed to that office for the longer period of time.
1967, c.9, s.7; 2007, c.55, s.1
Oath of staff
8(1)Before entering upon the exercise of his or her duties, a person appointed under subsection 6(1) or (2) shall take an oath to well and truly perform the duties of his or her office.
8(2)The Chief Electoral Officer shall administer the oath referred to in subsection (1).
1967, c.9, s.8; 2007, c.55, s.1
RETURNING OFFICERS
Returning officers
9(1)The Chief Electoral Officer may appoint a returning officer for each electoral district.
9(2)On receiving notice of his appointment a returning officer shall forthwith notify the Chief Electoral Officer if he is unable to act.
9(3)Immediately after his appointment, every returning officer shall take and subscribe an oath in the form prescribed by regulation, and he shall forward a duplicate of the oath to the Chief Electoral Officer within five days following his appointment.
9(4)The Chief Electoral Officer shall publish in The Royal Gazette in the month of January in each year a list of the names, addresses and occupations of the returning officers for every electoral district in the Province.
9(5)Notwithstanding subsection 14(1.1), the appointment of a returning officer made after the commencement of this subsection expires on the two hundred and fortieth day after the polling day of the general election next following the appointment.
9(5.1)Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.4
9(6)The Chief Electoral Officer may remove from office, as for cause, any returning officer who
(a) Repealed: 1988, c.9, s.1
(b) Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.3
(c) is incapable, by reason of illness, physical or mental infirmity or otherwise, of satisfactorily performing his duties,
(d) has failed to discharge competently his duties, or any of them, to the satisfaction of the Chief Electoral Officer, or
(e) has, at any time after his appointment, been guilty of politically partisan conduct, whether or not in the course of performance of his duties under this Act.
1967, c.9, s.9; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.2; 1988, c.9, s.1; 1990, c.34, s.1; 1998, c.32, s.4; 2010, c.6, s.3; 2022, c.21, s.4
ELECTION OFFICERS
Election officers
10None of the following persons shall be appointed as election officers:
(a) persons under the age of eighteen years;
(b) Repealed: 2006, c.6, s.2
(c) persons not qualified as electors in the Province;
(d) persons who have been found guilty of a corrupt practice under the electoral laws of Canada, of any province, or of any municipality or other local government.
1967, c.9, s.10; 1971, c.29, s.2; 1998, c.32, s.5; 2006, c.6, s.2; 2017, c.20, s.55
Voters list officers, poll revision officers, constables
10.01Despite section 10, a person who is 16 years of age or older may be appointed as a voters list officer, a poll revision officer or a constable if the person would be qualified as an elector if not for his or her age.
2006, c.6, s.3; 2010, c.6, s.4
Prohibition respecting family associate
10.1No person who is a family associate of a candidate may be appointed, act or continue to act as an election officer, other than a returning officer or an enumerator, in any electoral district in which a ballot may be cast for that candidate.
1997, c.53, s.3; 1998, c.32, s.6
Repealed
10.2Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.7
1997, c.53, s.3; 1998, c.32, s.7
Dismissal of election officers
11(1)An election officer may be suspended or dismissed by the returning officer if he or she does any of the following:
(a) refuses, neglects or is unable to carry out a duty imposed by this Act;
(b) acts as a canvasser for a candidate; or
(c) engages in partisan conduct after his or her appointment.
11(2)The returning officer may appoint another person to act in the place of an officer who is suspended or dismissed.
11(3)An officer who is suspended or dismissed shall cease to act immediately on being notified of the suspension or dismissal.
1967, c.9, s.11; 1998, c.32, s.8; 2006, c.6, s.4; 2010, c.6, s.5
POLLING DIVISIONS
Polling divisions
12(1)On or before April 1 of each year in which a scheduled general election is to be held, the Chief Electoral Officer shall do the following:
(a) subdivide each electoral district into as many polling divisions as the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary, giving due consideration to geographical and all other factors that may affect the convenience of the electors in casting their votes; and
(b) prepare in respect of each electoral district a statement setting forth the boundaries of the polling divisions into which the electoral district has been divided, identifying each with a number.
12(2)The polling divisions last established under this section before the issuance of a writ constitute the polling divisions of the electoral district for the purpose of the election.
12(3)Within 3 days following the issuance of a writ, the Chief Electoral Officer shall deliver to the leader of every recognized party a copy of the statement prepared under paragraph (1)(b) for each electoral district.
12(4)At any time that the Chief Electoral Officer considers it necessary, the Chief Electoral Officer may revise the boundaries of the polling divisions within the electoral districts, giving due consideration to the factors referred to in paragraph (1)(a), and, when he or she does so, shall prepare a statement in accordance with paragraph (1)(b).
1967, c.9, s.12; 1990, c.34, s.2, 3; 1994, c.47, s.2; 2010, c.6, s.6
COMMENCEMENT OF ELECTION
Commencement and schedule of election
13(1)Every election shall be commenced by an order of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.
13(2)An Order in Council under subsection (1) shall do the following:
(a) direct the issue of a writ of election for each electoral district in which an election is to take place;
(b) fix the date on which the writs will be issued, which shall be as follows:
(i) for a scheduled general election, the thirty-second day before ordinary polling day; and
(ii) for all other elections, not more than 38 nor less than 28 days before ordinary polling day;
(c) fix the date and time for the close of nominations of candidates, which shall be as follows:
(i) for a scheduled general election, 2 p.m. on the twentieth day before ordinary polling day; and
(ii) for all other elections, 2 p.m. on the seventeenth day before ordinary polling day;
(d) fix the date for the ordinary polling day in accordance with section 14;
(e) fix the date for the advance polling days, which shall be the ninth and seventh days before ordinary polling day;
(f) fix the date on which candidates will be declared elected, which shall be the fourth day following ordinary polling day; and
(g) fix the date on which the writs will be returnable, which shall be the eleventh day following ordinary polling day.
1967, c.9, s.13; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.2; 1990, c.34, s.4; 1997, c.53, s.4; 2010, c.6, s.7
Polling day
14(1)The day fixed for the poll shall at any election be a Monday, unless the Monday of the week in which it is desired to hold the poll is a holiday when the day fixed for the poll shall be Tuesday of the same week.
14(1.1)Where, pursuant to subsection (1), the day fixed for the poll at an election is a Tuesday, the provisions of this Act requiring any thing to be done on a specified day or within a specified period of time before or after polling day apply as if polling day were a Monday.
14(2)Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.8
14(3)If the date fixed for the close of nomination of candidates is a holiday, nomination day shall be the following:
(a) for a scheduled general election, the nineteenth day before ordinary polling day; and
(b) for all other elections, the sixteenth day before ordinary polling day.
14(4)All writs for a general election shall be issued on the same day and made returnable on the same day.
1967, c.9, s.14; 1985, c.45, s.2; 1997, c.53, s.5; 2010, c.6, s.8
Vacancies and by-elections
15(1)Subject to subsection (1.1), where a vacancy in the Legislative Assembly is certified to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly or the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly as provided by section 27 of the Legislative Assembly Act, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council shall direct the issue of a writ of election for the electoral district for which the vacancy occurred and shall
(a) fix the date on which the writ is issued, which shall not be more than six months from the certification; and
(b) fix the date of the ordinary polling day, which shall be a Monday not more than 38 nor less than 28 days from the date of the issue of the writ.
15(1.1)If the vacancy in the Legislative Assembly is certified during the 12-month period immediately preceding the date of a scheduled general election, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council is not required to act under subsection (1).
15(2)A writ for a by-election shall cease to have effect and the by-election to be held thereunder shall be cancelled if at any time prior to the ordinary polling day a writ for a general election is issued.
1967, c.9, s.15; 1978, c.D-11.2, s.18; 1997, c.53, s.6; 1998, c.32, s.9; 1999, c.21, s.7; 2006, c.25, s.1; 2007, c.30, s.22; 2015, c.5, s.2; 2022, c.48, s.1
WRITS OF ELECTION
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
ELECTION CLERKS
Election clerks
17(1)Following his or her appointment, the returning officer shall appoint in writing in the prescribed form an election clerk for each office opened under subsection 16(2.1), and an election clerk, before entering on his or her duties, shall take an oath in the prescribed form.
17(2)The election clerk shall assist the returning officer in the performance of his duties, and if the returning officer dies, refuses to act, or is disqualified or unable to perform his duties, the election clerk shall, until the appointment of a new returning officer, or until the returning officer again becomes able to act, perform the duties of the returning officer, and any act done by the election clerk under the authority of this section shall have the same effect as if it had been done by the returning officer.
17(2.1)If more than one election clerk has been appointed under subsection (1) and an election clerk is required to perform the duties of the returning officer in accordance with subsection (2), the Chief Electoral Officer shall designated which of the election clerks will perform those duties.
17(3)Every election clerk who is required to act as returning officer at an election in place of the returning officer by whom he was appointed shall himself appoint an election clerk.
17(4)Every election clerk holds office during the pleasure of the returning officer by whom he has been appointed, and, after the death or resignation of such returning officer, until his successor has appointed a new election clerk.
17(5)It is the duty of the returning officer and of the election clerk forthwith to notify the Chief Electoral Officer if the returning officer at any time becomes unable to act by reason of illness, absence from the electoral district or otherwise, and it is the duty of the election clerk forthwith to notify the Chief Electoral Officer of the death of the returning officer.
17(6)Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.11
1967, c.9, s.17; 1978, c.D-11.2, s.18; 1998, c.32, s.11; 2010, c.6, s.10
PROCLAMATION
Proclamation of nomination day
18(1)Within 5 days after the issuance of the writ, the returning officer shall issue a proclamation in the prescribed form which shall state the following:
(a) the address of an office of the returning officer at which nomination papers shall be filed and the time fixed for the close of nominations, which shall be in accordance with paragraph 13(2)(c);
(b) the day on which the ordinary and advance polls for taking the votes of the electors shall be held, and the hours at which the polls shall open and close;
(c) the time when and the place where the returning officer will add up the number of votes given to the candidates and declare the candidate elected who received the greatest number of votes.
(d) Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.11
18(2)At least four clear days before nomination day,
(a) the proclamation shall be published in at least one newspaper circulated in the electoral district, and
(b) notice of the publication of the proclamation shall be published in The Royal Gazette.
1967, c.9, s.18; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.3; 1980, c.17, s.3; 1990, c.34, s.5; 2010, c.6, s.11
SUPPLY OF ELECTION MATERIALS TO
RETURNING OFFICER
Repealed: 2006, c.6, s.6
2006, c.6, s.6
Repealed
19Repealed: 2006, c.6, s.7
1967, c.9, s.19; 1998, c.32, s.12; 2006, c.6, s.7
PRELIMINARY LIST
1998, c.32, s.13
Preliminary list
20(1)The Chief Electoral Officer shall, forthwith after the issue of the writ, cause to be prepared preliminary lists of all persons who, on the basis of information available under this Act, the Chief Electoral Officer has reason to believe are qualified as electors in each polling division of each electoral district, and shall send such lists to the returning officers along with all other information in the register of electors relating to electors in an electoral district.
20(2)The preliminary list of electors for any polling division or part of a polling division may be prepared from information in the register of electors established and maintained under section 20.1, or from information obtained by an enumeration carried out in accordance with section 20.16, or in part from the register of electors and in part from an enumeration.
20(3)When the preliminary lists of electors have been prepared, the returning officer shall provide one machine readable copy of the list for each polling division in the electoral district to each recognized party which has an officially nominated candidate in the electoral district and to each independent candidate who has been officially nominated in the electoral district.
20(4)Not later the fourteenth day before ordinary polling day, the Chief Electoral Officer shall cause to be sent to each person on the preliminary list of electors for a polling division a notice in the prescribed form advising each person of the polling division and polling station for which he or she is listed as being eligible to vote.
1967, c.9, s.20; 1998, c.32, s.14; 2010, c.6, s.12
REGISTER OF ELECTORS
1998, c.32, s.15
Register of electors
20.1The Chief Electoral Officer shall establish and maintain a register of electors in printed form, on film, by electronic means or otherwise, from which lists of electors for each polling division of each electoral district may be compiled for use in any election or plebiscite conducted in accordance with this Act or the Municipal Elections Act.
1998, c.32, s.15
Information respecting electors
20.2The register of electors shall contain information about persons who are ordinarily resident in the Province who, based on information available under this Act, the Chief Electoral Officer has reason to believe are qualified electors or will be qualified electors on satisfying age or residency requirements.
1998, c.32, s.15
Method of establishment
20.3The register of electors may be established from any or all of
(a) a general enumeration throughout the province or an enumeration of part or all of any electoral district conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Act, or
(b) a list of electors that was prepared for an election, plebiscite, or referendum held under the statutes of the Province or Canada, to the extent that such a list includes electors who the Chief Electoral Officer has reason to believe have resided in the Province for at least six months.
1998, c.32, s.15
Notice in The Royal Gazette
20.4As soon as the establishment of the register of electors has been completed, the Chief Electoral Officer shall give notice of that fact in The Royal Gazette.
1998, c.32, s.15
Copies to elected member and registered political parties
20.5(1)On or before March 31 in each year, the Chief Electoral Officer shall send one machine readable copy of the list of electors, as taken from the register of electors,
(a) to the elected member in respect of his electoral district, and
(b) on request, to each registered political party.
20.5(2)The lists of electors referred to in subsection (1) shall set out each elector’s surname, given names, sex, civic address and mailing address, if different from the civic address.
20.5(3)This section does not apply if the date mentioned in subsection (1) falls during a general election, or if the poll at a general election was held during the three months preceding that date.
1998, c.32, s.15; 2010, c.6, s.13
Copies to government departments or agencies
20.51The Chief Electoral Officer may provide the required extract from the register of electors to officials in a department or agency of the Province that determines eligibility to participate in an election or other public consultation under its administration by reference to eligibility to vote under this Act or the Municipal Elections Act.
2010, c.6, s.14
UPDATING THE REGISTER
1998, c.32, s.15
Information used to update register of electors
20.6(1)The register of electors shall be updated and maintained from information
(a) that electors have given the Chief Electoral Officer through individual applications for registration or in the course of an enumeration carried out under section 20.16;
(a.1) that administrators of treatment centres have given to the Chief Electoral Officer in accordance with subsection (3);
(b) that is held by the Chief Electoral Officer for Canada and that may be given to the Chief Electoral Officer for the province; or
(c) that is held by a provincial department or agency mentioned in Schedule C and that the Chief Electoral Officer considers reliable and necessary for updating the surname, given names, sex, date of birth, date of death, telephone number, and present or previous civic or mailing addresses of electors who are included in the register, or for identifying persons who may become eligible to be electors within six months by meeting age or residency requirements.
20.6(2)On the recommendation of the Chief Electoral Officer the Lieutenant-Governor in Council may by regulation amend Schedule C, including adding, changing or deleting the name of any department, agency or any other source of information, or the type of information contained therein.
20.6(3)On request by the returning officer, the administrator of a treatment centre shall provide the following information with respect to each resident or patient of the centre to the returning officer for the purposes of updating and maintaining the register of electors or a preliminary list of electors:
(a) surname and given names;
(b) sex;
(c) date of birth; and
(d) current civic address and mailing address, if different from the civic address.
1998, c.32, s.15; 2010, c.6, s.15
Update using election material
20.7After polling day, the Chief Electoral Officer shall update the register of electors from any information obtained during the election period under this Act.
1998, c.32, s.15
Additions of new electors
20.8(1)Where the Chief Electoral Officer collects information from provincial departments and agencies listed in Schedule C the Chief Electoral Officer shall not add a new elector to the register of electors unless:
(a) the Chief Electoral Officer sends the elector the information relating to that elector,
(b) the elector indicates that he or she wishes to be included in the register,
(c) the elector confirms, corrects or completes the information provided in paragraph (a) in writing, and returns it to the Chief Electoral Officer, and
(d) the elector provides the Chief Electoral Officer with a signed certification that the elector is a Canadian citizen.
20.8(2)This section does not apply in respect of the adding of a new elector
(a) at the elector’s own request;
(b) at the time the register of electors is established under section 20.3; or
(c) based on a list of electors established under the statutes of the Province or of Canada, to the extent that the list contains the surname, given names and civic address of the elector.
1998, c.32, s.15; 2010, c.6, s.16
Requests for inclusion
20.9(1)Any person may at any time request that the Chief Electoral Officer include that person in the register of electors, by providing
(a) a signed certification, in the form prescribed by regulation, that he or she is a Canadian citizen, of the full age of eighteen years, has resided in the Province for at least 40 days and is not for any reason disqualified as an elector;
(b) his or her surname, given names, sex, date of birth, civic address, and mailing address if different than the civic address; and
(c) satisfactory proof of identity.
20.9(2)In addition to the information referred to in subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer may invite the person to provide his or her telephone number, and previous civic address, if any, but the person is not required to do so.
1998, c.32, s.15; 2010, c.6, s.17
Changes of information
20.10An elector may give the Chief Electoral Officer any changes to the information in the register of electors relating to that elector, and the Chief Electoral Officer shall make the necessary corrections to the register.
1998, c.32, s.15
Authority of Chief Electoral Officer respecting information
20.11The Chief Electoral Officer may at any time
(a) contact a person to verify the Chief Electoral Officer’s information relating to that person; and
(b) request the person to confirm, correct or complete the information within sixty days after receiving the request.
1998, c.32, s.15
Deletions by Chief Electoral Officer
20.12(1)The Chief Electoral Officer shall delete from the register of electors the name of any person who
(a) is not, or is no longer, qualified to vote at an election in the Province;
(b) requests in writing to have his or her name deleted from the register; or
(c) dies.
20.12(2)The Chief Electoral Officer may delete from the register of electors the name of any person who fails to reply to a request referred to in paragraph 20.11(b) within sixty days.
1998, c.32, s.15
Restricted use of information
20.13If an elector so requests in writing, information in the register of electors relating to that elector shall be used only for provincial, local government and federal electoral or referendum purposes.
1998, c.32, s.15; 2005, c.7, s.23; 2017, c.20, s.55
Requests respecting information
20.14If a person so requests in writing, the Chief Electoral Officer shall send the person all the information in the Chief Electoral Officer’s possession relating to that person.
1998, c.32, s.15
Agreements with Chief Electoral Officer of Canada
20.15(1)The Chief Electoral Officer may enter into an agreement with the Chief Electoral Officer for Canada concerning the acquisition of information contained in the federal Register of Electors or any list of electors established under the statutes of Canada where that information is necessary or desirable to assist in establishing or maintaining the provincial register of electors or a list of electors for a provincial election or plebiscite, and concerning the provision of information contained in the provincial register of electors where that information is necessary or desirable to assist in establishing or maintaining a list of electors for a federal election or referendum.
20.15(2)The Chief Electoral Officer may, for the purpose of ensuring the protection of personal information given in accordance with an agreement mentioned in subsection (1), include in the agreement any conditions that the Chief Electoral Officer considers appropriate regarding the use that may be made of that information.
20.15(3)Information provided to the Chief Electoral Officer for Canada in accordance with an agreement mentioned in subsection (1) may be used only for the purpose of updating the federal Register of Electors or for establishing a list of electors for an election or a referendum held under the statutes of Canada.
1998, c.32, s.15
Enumerations
20.16(1)The Chief Electoral Officer may with the consent of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council at any time direct a general enumeration to be conducted throughout the Province, or may direct a returning officer to conduct an enumeration in any polling division or part of a polling division to identify electors residing in that area.
20.16(2)An enumeration under subsection (1),
(a) if conducted during an election period, shall be used to prepare or revise the preliminary lists of electors throughout the province or in affected polling divisions; and
(b) if conducted outside of an election period, shall be used to establish or update the register of electors.
20.16(3)An enumeration under subsection (1) shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
1998, c.32, s.16; 2010, c.6, s.18
ENUMERATIONS
Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.19
1998, c.32, s.17; 2010, c.6, s.19
Repealed
21Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.20
1967, c.9, s.21; 1980, c.17, s.4; 1990, c.34, s.6; 1998, c.32, s.18; 2006, c.6, s.8; 2010, c.6, s.20
Repealed
22Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.19
1967, c.9, s.22; 1998, c.32, s.19
Repealed
23Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.21
1967, c.9, s.23; 1998, c.32, s.20; 2010, c.6, s.21
Repealed
24Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.22
1967, c.9, s.24; 2010, c.6, s.22
Repealed
25Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.23
1967, c.9, s.25; 2010, c.6, s.23
PRELIMINARY LIST
Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.21
1998, c.32, s.21
Repealed
26Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.24
1967, c.9, s.26; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.4; 1980, c.17, s.5; 1985, c.45, s.3; 1990, c.34, s.7; 1991, c.48, s.3; 1998, c.32, s.22; 2010, c.6, s.24
Repealed
27Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.25
1967, c.9, s.27; 1971, c.29, s.1; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.5; 1980, c.17, s.6; 1990, c.34, s.8; 1998, c.32, s.23; 2010, c.6, s.25
Repealed
28Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.26
1967, c.9, s.28; 1990, c.34, s.9; 1994, c.47, s.3; 1998, c.32, s.24; 2010, c.6, s.26
Repealed
29Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.25
1967, c.9, s.29; 1990, c.34, s.10; 1994, c.47, s.4; 1998, c.32, s.25
Repealed
30Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.27
1967, c.9, s.30; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.6; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.3; 1980, c.17, s.7; 1985, c.45, s.4; 1990, c.34, s.11; 1994, c.47, s.5; 1998, c.32, s.26; 2006, c.6, s.9; 2010, c.6, s.27
Repealed
31Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.27
1967, c.9, s.31; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.7; 1980, c.17, s.8; 1998, c.32, s.27
Repealed
31.1Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.28
1980, c.17, s.9; 1998, c.32, s.28
REVISING OFFICERS
Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.29
1998, c.32, s.29
Repealed
32Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.30
1967, c.9, s.32; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.8; 1991, c.27, s.13; 1998, c.32, s.30
Repealed
33Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.31
1967, c.9, s.33; 1998, c.32, s.31
REVISION OF LISTS
1998, c.32, s.32
Revision of preliminary lists
34(1)The preliminary list of electors for each polling division in an electoral district shall be open for revision on application to a revision officer from and including the day on which the returning officer receives the preliminary list to and including the fourth day before ordinary polling day.
34(2)During the period for revision of the preliminary lists of electors, a revision officer shall make information about individual electors available to the individual concerned for confirmation or correction.
34(3)On request, a revision officer shall indicate to any person if the name of any other person is included on the preliminary list of electors, but shall not disclose the address of any person named in the preliminary list to any other person without the consent of the person named.
1967, c.9, s.34; 1980, c.17, s.10; 1990, c.34, s.12; 1998, c.32, s.33; 2010, c.6, s.28
Application for revision of preliminary list
35(1)During the period for revision of the preliminary lists of electors, a revision officer shall dispose of the following types of applications:
(a) an application to be added to a preliminary list made by a person whose name was omitted from the list;
(b) an application to correct the information on a preliminary list respecting an elector, which application may be made by any of the following:
(i) the elector;
(ii) a family member of the elector who has the information necessary to make the application; or
(iii) any other member of the elector’s household who has the information necessary to make the application;
(c) an application to delete an elector from a preliminary list because the elector has died or moved from the electoral district, which application may be made by any of the following:
(i) the elector;
(ii) a family member of the elector who has the information necessary to make the application; or
(iii) any other person who has the information necessary to make the application; and
(d) an application to delete an elector’s name from a preliminary list, which application may be made by a current resident of the address associated with the elector on the preliminary list.
35(2)An application under subsection (1) shall be in the prescribed form and shall be dealt with by the revision officer in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
35(3)In order for a revision officer to make an addition to, a correction to or a deletion from a preliminary list of electors, he or she must be satisfied that sufficient information has been provided in the application to justify revising the preliminary list as requested.
1967, c.9, s.35; 1980, c.17, s.11; 1998, c.32, s.34; 2006, c.6, s.10; 2010, c.6, s.29
Revised list of electors
36(1)A revision officer shall record all additions to, corrections to and deletions from a preliminary list of electors in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer and shall prepare, for each polling division in the electoral district, a revised list of electors which incorporates all of the changes to the preliminary list of electors.
36(2)A revised list of electors shall be prepared on the tenth day before ordinary polling day and on the third day before ordinary polling day.
36(3)A revised list of electors shall be prepared under this section regardless of whether any changes have been made to the preliminary list of electors.
1967, c.9, s.36; 1998, c.32, s.35; 2010, c.6, s.30
Repealed
37Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.36
1967, c.9, s.37; 1998, c.32, s.36
Repealed
38Repealed: 1990, c.22, s.12
1967, c.9, s.38; 1990, c.22, s.12
Repealed
39Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.31
1967, c.9, s.39; 1990, c.34, s.13; 1998, c.32, s.37; 2010, c.6, s.31
Repealed
40Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.38
1967, c.9, s.40; 1980, c.17, s.12; 1990, c.34, s.14; 1998, c.32, s.38
Distribution of revised list of electors
41Before each of the advance and ordinary polling days, the returning officer shall provide one copy of the revised list of electors for each polling division in the electoral district to the following:
(a) the appropriate poll officials; and
(b) each party and candidate who was provided with a copy of the preliminary lists of electors under subsection 20(3).
1967, c.9, s.41; 1998, c.32, s.39; 2010, c.6, s.32
Official list of electors
42(1)In all polling divisions, the revised list of electors shall be the official list of electors which shall be used for taking votes on the advance polling days and the ordinary polling day.
42(2)A political party or a candidate who has been furnished with copies of the preliminary and official lists of electors may use the lists for communicating with electors during the election period, including communications for the purpose of soliciting contributions and recruiting party members, but for no other purpose.
1967, c.9, s.42; 1998, c.32, s.40; 2006, c.6, s.11; 2010, c.6, s.33
Final list of electors
42.1(1)As soon as possible after ordinary polling day, the Chief Electoral Officer shall prepare a final list of electors for each electoral district, which list shall include the surnames, given names, sex, civic addresses and mailing address, if different from the civic address, of all electors whose names have been included in or added to the official list of electors by the close of polls on ordinary polling day.
42.1(2)The Chief Electoral Officer shall send one copy of the final list of electors to the elected member in respect of his or her electoral district and, on request, send one copy of the list to each registered political party.
42.1(3)A political party or a member who has been furnished with a copy of the final list of electors may use the list for communicating with electors outside an election period, including communications for the purpose of soliciting contributions and recruiting party members, but for no other purpose.
2010, c.6, s.34
QUALIFICATIONS AND
DISQUALIFICATIONS OF
ELECTORS
Qualifications and disqualifications of electors
43(1)Except as hereinafter provided every person is qualified to vote and entitled to have his name placed on the list of electors for the polling division in which he ordinarily resides at the time of the preparation and revision of the list of electors therefor, if he
(a) is of the full age of eighteen years or will attain the full age of eighteen years on or before polling day at the pending election,
(b) is a Canadian citizen,
(c) has been or will have been ordinarily resident in the Province for 40 days immediately preceding the date of the election, and
(d) subject to section 45, will be ordinarily resident in that electoral district on the date of the election.
(e) Repealed: 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.9
43(2)The following persons are disqualified from voting and shall not vote:
(a) the Chief Electoral Officer;
(b) the returning officer for each electoral district during his term of office, except when there is an equality of votes in the final addition of votes or on a recount;
(c) Repealed: 1983, c.4, s.5
(d) Repealed: 1983, c.4, s.5
(e) Repealed: 2003, c.24, s.1
(f) Repealed: 2003, c.24, s.1
(g) every person who is disqualified from voting under any law relating to the disqualification of electors for corrupt or illegal practices.
1967, c.9, s.43; 1971, c.29, s.3; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.9; 1979, c.41, s.42; 1980, c.17, s.13; 1983, c.4, s.5; 1985, c.45, s.5; 1997, c.53, s.7; 1998, c.32, s.41; 2003, c.24, s.1; 2010, c.6, s.35
RULES AS TO RESIDENCE
OF ELECTORS
Place where person is ordinarily resident
44For the purpose of preparing and revising the lists of electors under this Act, and of voting, subject to section 45, the place where a person is ordinarily resident is,
(a) if the person is a married person,
(i) at the place where his family lives and sleeps and to which, when away, he intends to return, or
(ii) if he is living apart from his family with the intent to remain so apart from it, then at the place where he lives and sleeps and to which, when away, he intends to return, without regard to where he takes his meals or is employed; and
(b) if the person is not married, at the place where he lives and sleeps, and to which, when away, he intends to return, without regard to where he takes his meals or is employed or where his family lives and sleeps.
1967, c.9, s.44
Rules to determine residence
45(1)If, when the preliminary lists of electors are being prepared, a person is residing in a treatment centre or in a lodging, hostel, home or institution conducted for charitable or semicharitable purposes, and is expected to continue to reside there until the day of the election, the person, if otherwise qualified as an elector, is entitled to have his or her name entered on one of the following lists of electors:
(a) the list for the polling division in which he or she ordinarily resides; or
(b) the list for the polling division in which he or she resides when the preliminary lists of electors are being prepared.
45(2)If a person is duly registered and in attendance at a recognized educational institution, and for those purposes resides in a polling division other than that in which he or she ordinarily resides, the person, if otherwise qualified as an elector, is entitled to have his or her name entered on one of the following lists of electors:
(a) the list for the polling division in which he or she ordinarily resides; or
(b) the list for the polling division in which he or she resides while attending the recognized educational institution.
45(3)A candidate, and a spouse or dependant of the candidate who lives with him or her and who is qualified as an elector, are entitled
(a) to have their names entered on the lists of electors for the following places:
(i) the place where the candidate is ordinarily resident;
(ii) the place where the candidate is temporarily resident during the election, if it is in the electoral district in which he or she is a candidate;
(iii) any place where an office of the returning officer is located for the electoral district in which he or she is a candidate; or
(iv) if the candidate was a member on the day before the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly immediately preceding the election, the place in Fredericton or the area surrounding Fredericton where the former member resided for the purpose of carrying out his or her duties as a member; and
(b) to vote in any one of those places as each of them may elect.
1967, c.9, s.45; 1985, c.45, s.6; 1998, c.32, s.42; 2010, c.6, s.36
Temporary residence
46(1)No person shall, for the purpose of this Act, be deemed to be ordinarily resident in the Province, if occupying quarters or premises that are generally occupied by him only during some or all of the months of May to October, inclusive, and generally remain unoccupied during some or all of the months of November to April, inclusive, unless
(a) he is occupying such quarters in the course of and in the pursuit of his ordinary gainful occupation, or
(b) he has no quarters in any other electoral district to which he might at will remove.
46(2)A person shall not be deemed to have gained a residence in the Province, or in an electoral district, if he has come into the Province for temporary purposes only, without the intention of making the Province, and some place in the electoral district, his home.
1967, c.9, s.46; 1998, c.32, s.43
QUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES
Qualified under Act to vote
47Subject to the provisions of this Act, any person who is qualified under this Act to vote may be a candidate for election to and be returned as a member of the Legislative Assembly.
1967, c.9, s.47
Qualifed to vote if by-election were general election
47.1A person who is not qualified to vote at a by-election may be a candidate at that by-election and may be returned as a member of the Legislative Assembly if he would be qualified to vote if the by-election were a general election.
1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.10
Repealed
48Repealed: 1993, c.41, s.12
1967, c.9, s.48; 1993, c.41, s.12
Mayor or councillor of a local governement
48.1(1)No person is eligible to be a member of the Legislative Assembly or to sit or vote in the Legislative Assembly who is a mayor or councillor of a local government.
48.1(2)Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.44
1980, c.17, s.14; 1981, c.21, s.1; 1987, c.6, s.21; 1998, c.32, s.44; 2005, c.7, s.23; 2010, c.6, s.37; 2017, c.20, s.55
Judges
48.2No person is eligible to be a candidate or capable of being elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly who is a judge of the Court of Appeal or The Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick or a judge appointed under the Provincial Court Act.
1983, c.4, s.5; 2023, c.17, s.64
Repealed
49Repealed: 1980, c.17, s.15
1967, c.9, s.49; 1968, c.26, s.1; 1972, c.27, s.49; 1980, c.17, s.15
Election void upon candidate being disqualified
50If any person who is by this or any other Act disqualified from, or declared incapable of, being elected a member of the Legislative Assembly, is nevertheless elected and returned as a member, his election and return is null and void.
1967, c.9, s.50
PROCEDURE AT NOMINATION
Nomination of candidate
51(1)Any twenty-five or more electors qualified to vote in the electoral district for which an election is to be held may nominate a candidate for that electoral district by signing a nomination paper in the prescribed form, stating therein such particulars of the name, address and occupation of the person proposed as sufficiently to identify such candidate, and the address of the candidate for service of process and papers under this Act, and by causing such nomination paper to be produced to and filed with the returning officer at any time between the date of the proclamation and the close of nominations as hereinafter specified, and by complying in all other respects with this section.
51(2)Each candidate shall be nominated by a separate nomination paper, and an elector shall only sign the nomination paper of one candidate.
51(3)A candidate of a recognized party shall deliver to the returning officer, at the same time as his nomination paper, a certificate, signed by the leader of such party in the presence of two witnesses, declaring that he is an official candidate of the party.
51(4)The nomination paper of a candidate shall designate the name of an agent to whom copies of the lists of electors are to be provided under subsection 20(3) and who may appoint a scrutineer to act at the polls under section 72.
51(4.1)Repealed: 2015, c.6, s.6
51(5)No nomination paper is valid nor shall be acted upon when filed with the returning officer, unless it is accompanied by a deposit of one hundred dollars in legal tender or a certified cheque for that amount made payable to the Minister of Finance and Treasury Board, and by proof by affidavit in the form prescribed by regulation that,
(a) not less than twenty-five persons, naming them, who have signed such nomination paper are duly qualified electors of the electoral district for which the election is to be held;
(b) they have signed it in the presence of a deponent or deponents; and
(c) the consent of the candidate, and the indication of his political party, or that he is an independent candidate, was signed by the candidate in the presence of a deponent; or the person nominated is absent from the Province and has authorized the deponent to give his consent to his nomination and to indicate the name of his political party or to declare that he is an independent candidate.
51(6)The returning officer shall not accept any deposit until after all the other steps necessary to complete the nomination of the candidate have been taken, and upon his accepting a deposit he shall give to the person by whom it is paid a receipt therefor that shall be prima facie evidence that the candidate has been duly and regularly nominated.
51(7)The full amount of every deposit shall forthwith after its receipt be transmitted by the returning officer to the Minister of Finance and Treasury Board.
51(8)The sum deposited by a candidate under this section shall be returned to him or her by the Minister of Finance and Treasury Board when the candidate submits his or her statement of election expenses in accordance with section 81 of the Political Process Financing Act.
51(9)The sum so deposited shall, in case of the death of any candidate after being nominated and before the closing of the poll, be returned to the personal representatives of such candidate.
1967, c.9, s.51; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.11; 1978, c.D-11.2, s.18; 1985, c.45, s.7; 1991, c.48, s.4; 1997, c.53, s.8; 1998, c.32, s.45; 2005, c.11, s.2; 2010, c.6, s.38; 2014, c.62, s.1; 2015, c.6, s.6; 2019, c.29, s.44
NOMINATION DAY
Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.39
2010, c.6, s.39
Procedure respecting nomination of candidate
52(1)The returning officer or an election clerk shall receive the nominations of candidates at an office of the returning officer at any time between the date of the proclamation and the close of nominations, after which time, no further nominations will be received.
52(2)Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.40
52(3)At the close of the time for nominating the candidates the returning officer shall deliver to every candidate, or the agent of a candidate applying therefor, a certified list of the names of the candidates who have been nominated.
52(4)Any votes given at the election for any person other than a duly nominated candidate are null and void.
1967, c.9, s.52; 1991, c.27, s.13; 2010, c.6, s.40
Report of nominations
53On the close of nominations, the returning officer shall submit a report to the Chief Electoral Officer on those persons whose nominations were accepted and those whose nominations were rejected, including the reasons for rejection.
1967, c.9, s.53; 2010, c.6, s.39; 2010, c.6, s.41
WITHDRAWAL OF CANDIDATES
Withdrawal of candidates
54(1)A candidate nominated may withdraw at any time not later than forty-eight hours before the opening of the poll by filing with the returning officer a declaration in writing to that effect, signed by himself and attested by the signatures of two qualified electors in the electoral district; and any votes cast for a candidate who has so withdrawn are null and void.
54(2)The deposit of a candidate so withdrawing is forfeited.
54(3)If, after the withdrawal, there remains but one candidate, the returning officer shall return as duly elected the candidate so remaining, without waiting for the day fixed for holding the poll.
54(4)When a candidate has withdrawn after the notice of the granting of the poll and the ballot papers have been printed, the returning officer shall advise the appropriate poll officials of the electoral district of the withdrawal.
54(5)On polling day, the poll officials shall post notices of the withdrawal in conspicuous places in the polling station and, when delivering a ballot paper to an elector, shall inform the elector of the withdrawal.
1967, c.9, s.54; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.4; 2010, c.6, s.42
DEATH OF CANDIDATE
Death of candidate
55(1)Where a candidate dies after the close of nomination and before the poll has closed, the returning officer, upon being satisfied of the fact of the death and with the consent of the Chief Electoral Officer, shall countermand notice of the poll, and fix another day for the nomination of candidates but no fresh nomination is necessary in the case of a candidate who stood nominated at the time of the countermand of the poll.
55(2)Notice of the day fixed, which shall not be more than one month from the death of the candidate nor less than twenty days from the issue of the notice, shall be given by a further proclamation distributed and published as required by section 18, and in addition to the new day for nomination there shall also be named by such proclamation a new polling day, which shall be the seventeenth day after the day fixed for the nomination.
55(3)The election, in other respects, shall be held in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
55(4)The lists of electors to be used at such postponed election shall be the official lists of electors prepared and revised after the issue of the writ.
55(5)Full particulars of any action taken under this section shall be reported by the returning officer to the Chief Electoral Officer with the return of the writ.
1967, c.9, s.55; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.12; 1997, c.53, s.9
ACCLAMATIONS
Election by acclamation
56When only one candidate has been nominated within the time fixed for that purpose, the returning officer shall forthwith make his return to the Chief Electoral Officer in the form prescribed by regulation that such candidate is duly elected for the electoral district and shall, within forty-eight hours, send a duplicate or certified copy of such return to the person elected.
1967, c.9, s.56; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.5
THE GRANTING OF A POLL
Grant of poll
57(1)If more candidates than one are nominated in the manner required by this Act, the returning officer shall grant a poll for taking the votes of the electors.
57(2)Within five days after the poll has been granted, the Chief Electoral Officer shall publish a notice of grant of poll in at least one newspaper circulated in each electoral district indicating
(a) the names, addresses, occupations, and the party designations of the candidates in the order in which their names are to be placed on the ballot papers,
(b) Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.43
(c) the days and times fixed for the revision of the list of electors, and that any electors who have not received a notice confirming that they are named on the list of electors for that electoral district
(i) may apply during the revision period to have their names added to the list of electors for the polling division in which they ordinarily reside, and if they choose, to the register of electors, on providing proper identification, or
(ii) may vote at an advance or ordinary poll after having their names added to the list of electors for the polling division in which they ordinarily reside on an advance or ordinary polling day on providing proper identification;
(d) the dates and times of the ordinary polling day and the advance polling days,
(e) that a special ballot paper may be applied for under section 87.6, and
(f) if the Chief Electoral Officer issues a directive under section 68.2, the types of assistive devices and services that will be provided, and where and when they will be available.
57(3)During the normal operating hours of an office of the returning officer, the returning officer shall permit a candidate or an elector to examine and consult, in the office, the notice of grant of poll.
1967, c.9, s.57; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.13; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.6; 1985, c.45, s.8; 1998, c.32, s.46; 2006, c.6, s.12; 2010, c.6, s.43
Repealed
58Repealed: 1998, c.32, s.47
1967, c.9, s.58; 1998, c.32, s.47
THE POLL AND POLLING STATIONS
Poll and polling station
59(1)The poll for each polling division shall be held at a polling station located in a court house, municipal hall, school or other public building or, if none is available, in any other suitable building.
59(1.1)Each polling station shall
(a) have convenient access with an outside door for admittance of voters and, if possible, another door through which the voters may leave after having voted, and
(b) if possible, be accessible without the use of stairs.
59(1.2)Upon the request of the Chief Electoral Officer, the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development or any person authorized by the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development to do so shall make available for use as a polling station any public school if such use does not disrupt instructional time for students.
59(2)The returning officer shall designate for each polling division a suitable polling station or stations having regard to the convenience of the voters in such polling division.
59(3)Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.44
59(4)Each polling station shall contain one or more compartments so arranged that each elector may be screened from observation, and may, without interference or interruption, mark his ballot paper.
59(5)For the use of electors in marking their ballot papers, each compartment shall be provided with a table or desk with a hard smooth surface and a black lead pencil, kept properly sharpened throughout the hours of polling, a black pen or other marking device provided by the Chief Electoral Officer.
59(6)On an ordinary polling day or an advance polling day, the polls shall be open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., and, during that time, the poll officials appointed for a polling station shall receive in the prescribed manner the votes of the electors duly qualified to vote at that polling station.
59(7)If for any reason the opening of a poll is delayed past 10 a.m., the poll supervisor shall notify the returning officer of the reason for the delay, shall make a record of the hour at which the poll is opened and shall keep the poll open for voting for 10 full hours after it opens.
59(8)At the time of the closing of a poll, if there are any electors in the polling station or in line at the door who have not voted since their arrival at the polling station, the poll shall be kept open a sufficient time to enable them to vote, but a person who is not present at the time of closing shall not be allowed to vote, even if others are still voting when he or she arrives.
1967, c.9, s.59; 1971, c.29, s.4; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.14; 1980, c.17, s.16; 1994, c.47, s.6; 1997, c.42, s.2; 2006, c.6, s.13; 2010, c.6, s.44; 2010, c.31, s.37
Repealed
60Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.45
1967, c.9, s.60; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.15; 1994, c.47, s.7; 1998, c.32, s.48; 2010, c.6, s.45
POLL OFFICIALS
1998, c.32, s.49; 2010, c.6, s.46
Poll officials
61(1)As soon as convenient after the issuance of the writ, the returning officer shall appoint any of the following poll officials that are necessary for the holding of the poll:
(a) poll supervisor;
(b) voters list officer;
(c) ballot issuing officer;
(d) poll revision officer;
(e) vote tabulation machine officer;
(f) ballot counting officer;
(g) technical support officer;
(h) constable; and
(i) any other officers who are necessary for the holding of the poll.
61(2)No person who is under the age of 18 years shall be appointed as a poll supervisor.
61(3)A person appointed under this section shall be paid for his or her services according to the fees prescribed by regulation.
61(4)Nothing in this section prevents a person from holding more than one appointment under this section.
61(5)Before noon on the seventh day following the issuance of the writ, authorized officers of the registered district association associated with each registered political party may file with the returning officer for their electoral district a list of nominees for appointment as poll officials under this section.
61(6)Any person may apply to the returning officer to be appointed as a poll official.
61(7)The returning officer shall appoint those persons to the positions listed in subsection (1) that he or she considers appropriate and, to the extent possible, shall appoint to each polling station at least one nominee from each of the registered political parties that were, immediately before the commencement of the election period, the governing party and the party of the official opposition.
61(8)When the returning officer appoints nominees from the registered political parties in accordance with subsection (7), he or she shall ensure, to the extent possible, that at each polling station there are an equal number of poll officials appointed from the parties that were, immediately before the commencement of the election period, the governing party and the party of the official opposition.
61(9)Before acting as a poll official, every person appointed under this section shall take an oath in the prescribed form.
61(10)At least 2 days before the ordinary polling day, the returning officer shall post in each of his or her offices a list of the names and addresses of the poll officials, showing the polling station for which each of them is appointed, and shall permit, up to the opening of the poll, free access to and afford full opportunity for inspection of the list by a candidate, agent or elector during normal operating hours.
61(11)Not later than the tenth day before ordinary polling day, the returning officer shall furnish each candidate with a list of the poll officials assigned to the advance polls, showing the polling station for which each of them is appointed.
61(12)If the returning officer makes changes in the appointments of poll officials after the list has been furnished to the candidates and posted, he or she shall notify each candidate without delay and correct the posted list.
1967, c.9, s.61; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.16; 1990, c.34, s.15; 1991, c.48, s.5; 1998, c.32, s.50; 2006, c.6, s.14; 2010, c.6, s.47
BALLOT BOXES
Ballot boxes
62(1)The Chief Electoral Officer shall provide the returning officer in each electoral district with the required ballot boxes.
62(2)Every ballot box shall be made of durable material and shall have a slit or narrow opening in the top, so constructed that the ballot papers may be introduced therein, but cannot be withdrawn therefrom unless the metal or plastic seal is broken.
62(3)Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.48
62(4)The property in ballot boxes and all election documents is vested in the Crown.
1967, c.9, s.62; 1980, c.17, s.17; 2006, c.6, s.15; 2010, c.6, s.48; 2023, c.17, s.64
BALLOT PAPERS
Ballot papers
63(1)The Chief Electoral Officer, or a returning officer acting on the instructions of the Chief Electoral Officer, shall prepare or have prepared a sufficient number of ballot papers for each electoral district.
63(2)The ballot paper shall be in the prescribed form and shall comply with the requirements of this section.
63(3)The Chief Electoral Officer shall provide the returning officer or the printer with the paper on which ballot papers shall be printed.
63(4)The ballot paper shall have the following printed on it:
(a) a space for the initials of the ballot issuing officer;
(b) the name of the electoral district;
(c) the date of the ordinary polling day; and
(d) any other information that the Chief Electoral Officer may direct.
63(5)The names and political affiliations of the candidates shall appear on the ballot paper, and the names of the candidates
(a) shall be printed exactly as the names are set out in the nomination papers, exclusive of any professional, academic or honorary title or its abbreviation, and may include a nickname in brackets, and
(b) shall precede the political affiliations of the candidates.
63(6)The names of candidates of recognized parties shall be arranged in the following order on the ballot paper:
(a) first, the recognized party that was the governing party immediately before the commencement of the election period;
(b) second, the recognized party that was the party of the official opposition immediately before the commencement of the election period; and
(c) third and following, any other recognized parties in alphabetical order according to the first letter of the first word in the name of the party.
63(7)If there are any independent candidates, their names shall appear on the ballot paper below those of the candidates of the recognized parties in alphabetical order according to the first letter of the candidate’s surname.
1967, c.9, s.63; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.17; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.7; 1980, c.17, s.18; 1985, c.45, s.9; 1998, c.32, s.51; 2006, c.6, s.16; 2010, c.6, s.49
Repealed
64Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.50
1967, c.9, s.64; 2010, c.6, s.50
Repealed
65Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.51
1967, c.9, s.65; 2010, c.6, s.51
Repealed
66Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.52
1967, c.9, s.66; 1980, c.17, s.19; 2010, c.6, s.52
Repealed
67Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.53
1967, c.9, s.67; 1985, c.45, s.10; 2010, c.6, s.53
Declaration of printer
68(1)On delivering the printed ballot papers to the Chief Electoral Officer or a returning officer, the printer shall also provide a declaration containing the following information and documents:
(a) a description or a specimen of each of the ballot papers;
(b) the number of sheets of paper that were received by the printer for printing the ballot papers;
(c) the number of ballot papers delivered to the Chief Electoral Officer or the returning officer;
(d) the full name of each person who worked on the printing, counting, packing and delivering of the ballot papers; and
(e) a statement that no other ballot papers of the same description have been delivered to any other person by the printer or an employee or agent of the printer.
68(2)When received by a returning officer, a declaration shall be immediately transmitted to the Chief Electoral Officer.
1967, c.9, s.68; 2010, c.6, s.54
Braille facsimiles of ballot
68.1(1)The Chief Electoral Officer shall arrange for the printing of braille facsimiles of the ballot papers for each electoral district and shall deliver to the returning officer one braille facsimile of the ballot paper for each polling station in the electoral district.
68.1(2)The person preparing braille facsimiles of any ballot paper, on delivering such facsimiles to the Chief Electoral Officer shall file a statutory declaration stating that the braille facsimiles are true and accurate representations of the printed ballot papers, the number of braille facsimiles prepared, the name of the person or persons who prepared the braille facsimiles, and that no copies of the braille facsimiles of the ballot papers have been provided to any person except the Chief Electoral Officer.
1998, c.32, s.52; 2006, c.6, s.17
Assistive devices for voting
68.2(1)The Chief Electoral Officer may provide those assistive devices or services in each electoral district that he or she considers necessary to enable electors with visual, hearing or other impairments to vote independently.
68.2(2)Taking into consideration the nature, cost and availability of the necessary assistive devices and services, the Chief Electoral Officer may direct that any or all of these devices or services will only be available for an electoral district at an office of the returning officer or at designated polling stations.
2010, c.6, s.55
Offences regarding ballots
69Every one who
(a) forges, counterfeits, fraudulently alters, defaces or fraudulently destroys a ballot paper or a braille facsimile of a ballot paper or the initials of the election officer signed on the ballot paper or braille facsimile;
(b) without authority supplies a ballot paper or a braille facsimile of a ballot paper to any person;
(c) not being a person entitled under this Act to be in possession of official ballot paper or of any ballot paper, has any such official ballot paper or any ballot paper in his possession;
(d) fraudulently puts or causes to be put into a ballot box a paper other than the ballot paper that is authorized by this Act;
(e) fraudulently takes a ballot paper or a braille facsimile of a ballot paper out of the polling station;
(f) without due authority destroys, takes, opens or otherwise interferes with a ballot box or book or packet of ballot papers then in use for the purposes of the election;
(g) being an election officer, other than as authorized by this Act or the Chief Electoral Officer, puts his or her initials on a paper purporting to be or capable of being used as a ballot paper at an election;
(h) with fraudulent intent, prints any ballot paper or what purports to be or is capable of being used as a ballot paper at an election;
(i) being authorized by the returning officer or the Chief Electoral Officer to print the ballot papers for an election, prints more ballot papers than he or she is authorized to print;
(j) being an election officer, places on a ballot paper any writing, number or mark with the intent that the elector to whom the ballot paper is to be or has been given may be identified by it;
(k) manufactures, constructs, imports into Canada, has in possession, supplies to any election officer, or uses for the purposes of an election, or causes to be manufactured, constructed, imported in Canada, supplied to any election officer, or used for the purposes of any election, any ballot box containing or including any compartment, appliance, device or mechanism by which a ballot paper may or could be secretly placed or stored therein, or having been deposited during polling, may be secretly diverted, misplaced, affected or manipulated; or
(l) attempts to commit any offence specified in this section;
is disqualified from voting at any election for a term of seven years thereafter and is guilty of an offence.
1967, c.9, s.69; 1987, c.6, s.21; 1990, c.61, s.38; 1998, c.32, s.53; 2010, c.6, s.56
ELECTION MATERIALS
2010, c.6, s.57
Supply of election materials to returning officers
70The Chief Electoral Officer shall provide each returning officer with all the material and equipment necessary for each polling station in the electoral district, including voting screens, ballot boxes or vote tabulation machines and instructions for electors and poll officials.
1967, c.9, s.70; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.18; 1980, c.17, s.20; 1998, c.32, s.54; 2006, c.6, s.18; 2010, c.6, s.58
Supply of election materials to poll officials
71(1)In accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer, the returning officer shall distribute the materials and equipment received under section 70 and the lists of electors and the ballot papers for each polling station to the appropriate poll officials.
71(2)Until the opening of the poll, a poll official who receives materials, equipment or documents under subsection (1) shall keep them in his or her possession and shall take every precaution for their safekeeping and to prevent any person from having unlawful access to them.
1967, c.9, s.71; 1980, c.17, s.21; 1985, c.45, s.11; 1986, c.29, s.1; 1987, c.6, s.21; 1991, c.48, s.6; 2010, c.6, s.59
PERSONS AT THE POLLS
1991, c.48, s.7
Scrutineer at poll
72No person other than the following people may be present at a polling station on an ordinary or an advance polling day:
(a) the Chief Electoral Officer;
(b) an Assistant Electoral Officer;
(c) the returning officer;
(d) an election clerk;
(e) a poll official appointed by the returning officer to that polling station;
(f) a candidate;
(g) one scrutineer per polling division for each candidate;
(h) one scrutineer who may collect voter information sheets from the poll supervisor;
(i) until a scrutineer has delivered his or her written appointment to represent a recognized party or an independent candidate to the poll supervisor, one elector to represent each recognized party or independent candidate on the request of the elector;
(j) an elector engaged in or waiting to vote;
(k) a person assisting an elector in accordance with section 83; and
(l) any other person authorized in writing by the Chief Electoral Officer to be present.
1967, c.9, s.72; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.8; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.19; 1980, c.17, s.22; 1998, c.32, s.55; 2010, c.6, s.60
Attendance of representative of news broadcaster or news publication at polls
72.1Notwithstanding section 72 representatives of a bona fide news broadcaster or news publication may be permitted by the returning officer to enter the room where the poll is held for the sole purpose of photographing or otherwise visually recording the casting of the ballot by a candidate of a recognized party provided
(a) the candidate agrees to the presence of the representatives;
(b) previous arrangements to the satisfaction of the returning officer have been made;
(c) no interviews shall be conducted in the room where the poll is held; and
(d) the representatives immediately leave the room where the poll is held once the candidate’s ballot has been cast.
1997, c.53, s.10
Oath of scrutineer
73Every scrutineer or, in the absence of a scrutineer, the elector requesting the right to represent candidates, on being admitted to the polling station shall take an oath in the prescribed form to keep secret the name of the candidate for whom any elector has voted in his presence.
1967, c.9, s.73; 1980, c.17, s.23; 2010, c.6, s.61
Inspection of ballots and ballot boxes
74(1)If the scrutineers and the electors entitled to be present during polling hours in the room where the poll is held as representatives of parties or candidates are in attendance at least fifteen minutes before the hour fixed for the opening of the poll, they are entitled to inspect the ballot box, the ballot papers, and all other papers, forms and documents relating to the poll.
74(2)A candidate may himself undertake the duties that a scrutineer, if appointed, might have undertaken.
1967, c.9, s.74; 1980, c.17, s.24
PROCEEDINGS AT THE POLLS
Voting procedure at polling station
75(1)The Chief Electoral Officer shall cause to be posted in a conspicuous place in each polling station during the hours that it is open, instructions to electors regarding the proper method of voting.
75(2)Approximately 15 minutes before the poll is open in a polling station where ballots are to be counted by hand, the ballot counting officer shall show all other election officers, candidates and scrutineers present that the ballot boxes are empty and shall seal the boxes, which boxes shall remain sealed and in public view until the close of polls, after which they shall be dealt with in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
75(3)Approximately 15 minutes before the poll is open in a polling station where ballots are to be counted by a vote tabulation machine, the poll supervisor or vote tabulation machine officer shall prepare the vote tabulation machine for polling in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer, so as to demonstrate to all other election officers, candidates and scrutineers present that no votes have been recorded on the machine, and then he or she shall open the machine for the purpose of accepting votes.
75(4)On the opening of a polling station, if the ballot boxes have been sealed or the vote tabulation machine has been opened, as the case may be, the poll supervisor shall call on the electors to vote.
75(5)On entering a polling station, a person shall state his or her name and address to a voters list officer, who shall verify if the person’s name is on the official list of electors.
75(6)If the person’s name is on the official list of electors for that polling station, the voters list officer shall strike off the person’s name on the list and direct the person to a ballot issuing officer.
75(7)If the person’s name is not on the official list of electors for that polling station, the person may apply under subsection 75.01(1) to have his or her name added to the list.
1967, c.9, s.75; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.20; 1980, c.17, s.25; 1985, c.45, s.12; 1991, c.27, s.13; 1991, c.48, s.8; 2006, c.6, s.19; 2010, c.6, s.62
Application to vote at polling station
75.01(1) A person may apply to have his or her name added to the official list of electors for a polling station by completing an application to be added to the list and a declaration of qualification to vote, in the prescribed forms, and
(a) presenting one or more identification documents, excluding financial or credit cards, that between them show the person’s name, current civic address and signature, or
(b) being vouched for by an elector who
(i) has his or her name on the official list of electors for that polling station,
(ii) personally attends at the polling station with the person proposing to vote, and
(iii) takes an oath in the prescribed form.
75.01(2)An application under subsection (1) shall be made to a voters list officer, a poll revision officer or the poll supervisor.
75.01(3)An elector may vouch for more than one person under paragraph (1)(b) if the elector personally attends at the polling station with each person to be vouched for and takes an oath in the prescribed form with respect to each person to be vouched for.
75.01(4)If a scrutineer or an election officer has reason to believe that a person applying to vote is not qualified to vote, at all or at that polling station, he or she shall require the person to take an oath in the prescribed form confirming the person’s qualification to vote.
75.01(5)A person who refuses to take an oath under subsection (4) when required to do so may not vote.
75.01(6)If a person applies to vote and that person’s name has been struck off on the list of electors as having voted, the person may vote if he or she does the following:
(a) establishes his or her identity to the satisfaction of the voters list officer, the poll revision officer or the poll supervisor at that polling station; and
(b) takes an oath in the prescribed form that he or she has not already voted at the same election.
75.01(7)The voters list officer or poll revision officer shall keep a record of any person who applies to vote under this section and shall note in the record if the person took the oath.
2010, c.6, s.63
Manner of voting
75.02(1)A ballot issuing officer shall give each elector a ballot paper for the electoral district in which the elector is qualified to vote, explain how to mark the ballot paper, and direct the elector to a voting compartment where the elector can mark the ballot paper without being observed by another person.
75.02(2)An elector who makes a mistake in marking a ballot paper may return it to the ballot issuing officer who issued the ballot paper, who shall mark it as a “spoiled ballot paper” and give the elector a new ballot paper.
75.02(3)When an elector has marked his or her ballot paper,
(a) the ballot paper shall be
(i) folded or placed in a secrecy sleeve so as to ensure that the elector’s vote is not visible to any other person, and
(ii) deposited in the ballot box in accordance with the instructions of the Chief Electoral Officer; and
(b) the voter shall leave the polling station at once.
75.02(4)No elector shall vote more than once at the same election.
2010, c.6, s.63
Prohibition respecting telephone at poll
75.1(1)During the time that an ordinary, advance or additional poll remains open, no telephone, including a cellular phone, or other telecommunications device shall be used in the room where the poll is held, except by the following people:
(a) a poll supervisor; or
(b) an election officer designated by the returning officer, by a poll supervisor or by the Chief Electoral Officer.
75.1(2)If an election officer has been designated under paragraph (1)(b), he or she shall use the telephone or other device in accordance with the directions of the designator.
1997, c.53, s.11; 1998, c.32, s.56; 2010, c.6, s.64
WHO MAY VOTE
Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.65
2010, c.6, s.65
Repealed
76Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.66
1967, c.9, s.76; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.21; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.9; 1980, c.17, s.26; 1991, c.48, s.9; 1997, c.53, s.12; 1998, c.32, s.57; 2006, c.6, s.20; 2010, c.6, s.66
Repealed
76.1Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.67
1980, c.17, s.27; 1987, c.6, s.21; 1991, c.48, s.10; 1997, c.53, s.13; 1998, c.32, s.58; 2006, c.6, s.21; 2010, c.6, s.67
Repealed
77Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.68
1967, c.9, s.77; 1991, c.48, s.11; 2006, c.6, s.22; 2010, c.6, s.68
Repealed
78Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.69
1967, c.9, s.78; 1980, c.17, s.28; 2006, c.6, s.23; 2010, c.6, s.69
ENTRIES ON LIST OF ELECTORS OR RECORD OF OBJECTIONS
2010, c.6, s.70
Entries on list of electors or record of objections
79(1)On the list of electors, the voters list officer or the poll revision officer shall do the following:
(a) strike off the name of each elector on the elector being directed to a ballot issuing officer; and
(b) make any other entries that the Chief Electoral Officer may direct.
79(2)If a person is required to take an oath under subsection 75.01(4), the voters list officer or the poll revision officer shall record the following information in the record of objections:
(a) the name of the person;
(b) the name of the scrutineer or election officer who required that the oath be taken;
(c) the reason that the oath was required to be taken;
(d) whether the person took the oath or affirmed;
(e) whether the person voted; and
(f) any other information that the Chief Electoral Officer may direct.
1967, c.9, s.79; 1997, c.53, s.14; 2006, c.6, s.24; 2010, c.6, s.71
TRANSFER CERTIFICATES
Transfer certificates
80(1)If an elector’s name appears on the list of electors for a polling station that is not physically accessible by the elector, the returning officer or election clerk may issue a transfer certificate to the elector entitling the elector to vote at another polling station in the same electoral district that the elector is able to access.
80(2)The returning officer or election clerk who issues a transfer certificate shall complete the certificate, dating and signing it, consecutively number the certificate in the order of its issue and keep a record of it, and no blank certificate shall be issued.
80(3)The returning officer or election clerk shall indicate on the list of electors those electors to whom a transfer certificate has been issued or, if that list has been delivered to the appropriate poll officials, deliver to the poll supervisor a duplicate of the certificate, who shall provide the duplicate to the appropriate voters list officer or poll revision officer.
80(4)Immediately on receiving a duplicate transfer certificate, the voters list officer or the poll revision officer shall add to the list of electors the name of the elector to whom it has been issued and indicate that the elector will vote under the authority of a transfer certificate.
80(5)Before being allowed to vote, a person entitled to vote under the authority of a transfer certificate shall surrender his or her certificate to the voters list officer or the poll revision officer.
80(6)When a vote is polled under the authority of this section, the voters list officer or the poll revision officer shall enter on the list of electors opposite the voter’s name an indication that the voter voted under a transfer certificate, giving the number of the certificate.
80(7)No person who has obtained a transfer certificate is entitled to vote at the polling station for which his name originally appeared on the list of electors, except on producing the certificate and delivering it to the voters list officer or the poll revision officer at that polling station.
1967, c.9, s.80; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.10; 1991, c.48, s.12; 2010, c.6, s.72
SECRECY
Voting secrecy
81(1)Every candidate, officer, clerk, scrutineer or other person in attendance at a polling station or at the counting of the votes shall maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of the voting, and shall not attempt to obtain, or communicate or attempt to communicate, any information as to the candidate for whom any elector has voted.
81(2)Except as provided in section 83, no elector shall during the time he is in the polling station disclose in any manner the name of a candidate for whom he intends to vote or has voted.
81(3)Every person who contravenes or fails to observe any provision of this section is guilty of an illegal practice.
1967, c.9, s.81; 1991, c.48, s.13
MANNER OF VOTING
Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.73
2010, c.6, s.73
Repealed
82Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.74
1967, c.9, s.82; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.11; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.22; 1980, c.17, s.29; 1991, c.48, s.14; 2006, c.6, s.25; 2010, c.6, s.74
ELECTORS REQUIRING ASSISTANCE
2010, c.6, s.75
Incapacitated voters
83(1)If an elector requires assistance to mark his or her ballot paper, he or she shall be assisted by an election officer at the polling station or, if the elector prefers, by another person chosen by the elector.
83(2)A person assisting an elector under this section, other than an election officer, shall take an oath in the prescribed form to mark the elector’s ballot paper in accordance with the elector’s directions and to keep that elector’s vote secret.
83(3)A person other than an election officer may assist only one elector to vote.
1967, c.9, s.83; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.23; 1985, c.45, s.13; 1991, c.48, s.15; 2006, c.6, s.26; 2010, c.6, s.76
MOBILE POLLING STATIONS
Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.77
1985, c.45, s.14; 2010, c.6, s.77
Repealed
83.1Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.78
1985, c.45, s.15; 1991, c.48, s.16; 2006, c.6, s.27; 2010, c.6, s.78
Repealed
83.2Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.79
1985, c.45, s.15; 1997, c.53, s.15; 2010, c.6, s.79
Repealed
83.3Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.80
1985, c.45, s.15; 2010, c.6, s.80
Repealed
83.4Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.81
1985, c.45, s.15; 2010, c.6, s.81
Repealed
83.5Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.82
1985, c.45, s.15; 2010, c.6, s.82
NAME ALREADY VOTED
Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.83
2010, c.6, s.83
Repealed
84Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.84
1967, c.9, s.84; 2010, c.6, s.84
INTERPRETER
Interpreter for voter
85(1)If an elector speaks neither English nor French, the poll supervisor, if possible, shall appoint an interpreter who shall be the means of communication between the election officers and the elector with respect to all matters required to enable the elector to vote.
85(2)The Interpreter shall take the oath following:
“I swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully translate such oaths, declarations, questions and answers as an election officer shall require of me to translate at this election. So help me God.”
1967, c.9, s.85; 2010, c.6, s.85
TIME TO EMPLOYEES FOR VOTING
Time to employees for voting
86(1)Every employee who is a qualified elector shall, while the polls are open on polling day at an election, have three consecutive hours for the purpose of casting his vote, and if the hours of his employment do not allow for such three consecutive hours, his employer shall allow him such additional time for voting as may be necessary to provide three consecutive hours.
86(2)No employer shall make any deduction from the pay of any such employee nor impose upon or exact from him any penalty by reason of absence from his work during such consecutive hours.
86(3)Any additional time for voting shall be granted at the convenience of the employer.
86(4)This section extends to railway companies and their employees, except such employees as are actually engaged in the running of trains and to whom such time cannot be allowed without interfering with the manning of the trains.
86(5)Any employer who, directly or indirectly, refuses, or by intimidation, undue influence, or in any other way, interferes with the granting to any elector in his employ, of the consecutive hours for voting, as in this section provided, is guilty of an illegal practice and of an offence.
1967, c.9, s.86; 1987, c.6, s.21; 1990, c.61, s.38
ELECTORS IN LINE AT CLOSING OF POLL
Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.86
2010, c.6, s.86
Repealed
87Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.87
1967, c.9, s.87; 2010, c.6, s.87
SPECIAL BALLOTS
Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.88
1985, c.45, s.16; 1998, c.32, s.59; 2010, c.6, s.88
Repealed
87.1Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.89
1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.24; 1980, c.17, s.30; 1985, c.45, s.17; 1986, c.29, s.2; 1998, c.32, s.60; 2006, c.6, s.28; 2010, c.6, s.89
Repealed
87.2Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.90
1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.24; 1985, c.45, s.18; 1998, c.32, s.61; 2006, c.6, s.29; 2010, c.6, s.90
Repealed
87.3Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.91
1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.24; 1980, c.17, s.31; 1985, c.45, s.19; 1987, c.6, s.21; 1998, c.32, s.62; 2006, c.6, s.30; 2010, c.6, s.91
Repealed
87.4Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.92
1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.24; 1980, c.17, s.32; 1985, c.45, s.20; 1998, c.32, s.63; 2006, c.6, s.31; 2010, c.6, s.92
Repealed
87.5Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.93
2006, c.6, s.32; 2010, c.6, s.93
ADDITIONAL VOTING OPPORTUNITIES
2010, c.6, s.94
Special voting officers
87.51(1)Subject to subsections (2) and (3), the returning officer shall appoint 4 or more special voting officers in the following manner:
(a) two or more officers from the list of nominees filed under subsection 61(5) by the registered political party that was the governing party immediately before the commencement of the election period; and
(b) two or more officers from the list of nominees filed under subsection 61(5) by the registered political party that was the party of the official opposition immediately before the commencement of the election period.
87.51(2)The returning officer
(a) may only appoint more than 4 special voting officers with the approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, and
(b) shall appoint an equal number of special voting officers from each of the registered political parties referred to in subsection (1).
87.51(3)If the lists of nominees filed under subsection 61(5) are unable to provide the returning officer with a sufficient number of appointees to provide adequate additional voting opportunities to electors in the electoral district, the returning officer may appoint special voting officers from the applicants under subsection 61(6).
87.51(4)The special voting officers are responsible for administering the additional polls and the special ballot voting in the electoral district.
87.51(5)When the vote of an elector is taken by special voting officers outside an office of the returning officer, it shall be taken by 2 special voting officers.
87.51(6)When it is possible to do so, the returning officer shall ensure the following:
(a) that 2 special voting officers are available at each office of the returning officer during its normal operating hours, one of whom shall be an appointee from the list referred to in paragraph (1)(a) and one of whom shall be an appointee from the list referred to in paragraph (1)(b); and
(b) when the vote of an elector is taken in accordance with subsection (5), that one of the special voting officers is an appointee from the list referred to in paragraph (1)(a) and one is an appointee from the list referred to in paragraph (1)(b).
2010, c.6, s.94
Special ballot papers
87.52(1)The ballot papers that are to be used in the electoral district on ordinary polling day shall be the ballot papers used for voting at additional polls and shall be the special ballot papers issued to electors under section 87.61.
87.52(2)The Chief Electoral Officer may prescribe a write-in special ballot paper to be used by electors who wish to vote at an election before the ballot papers referred to in subsection (1) are available.
2010, c.6, s.94
Additional polls - treatment centres and hospitals
87.53(1)Before the first day of advance polls, if there are any treatment centres in an electoral district, the returning officer, in consultation with the administrator of or person appointed by each centre, shall determine if an additional poll is required to take the vote of the residents or patients of the centre and, if it is required, shall fix the day, time and place for holding the additional poll at the centre.
87.53(2)When an additional poll is held in a treatment centre where residents or patients are unable to move about on their own, the special voting officers shall do the following:
(a) if appropriate, set up a polling station in a common area of the centre to take the vote of electors who are able to attend the polling station; and
(b) carry the ballot box, ballot papers and other necessary documents from room to room in the centre to take the vote of the remaining electors who wish to vote.
87.53(3)Despite section 72, only the following persons may accompany a polling station as it moves from room to room in a treatment centre:
(a) the special voting officers;
(b) the returning officer or an election clerk;
(c) a staff member of the centre; and
(d) a candidate, his or her official agent and a scrutineer.
87.53(4)If, in the opinion of the administrator or person appointed by the treatment centre, it is considered advisable to do so, the special voting officers may limit those present at a polling station to the following persons:
(a) the special voting officers;
(b) the returning officer or an election clerk; and
(c) a staff member of the centre.
87.53(5)On the close of an additional poll at a treatment centre, the administrator of or person appointed by the centre shall sign a statement certifying that all the electors who are a resident or a patient of the centre, who were present at the time fixed for the additional poll and who wished to vote were given an opportunity to vote.
87.53(6)A special voting officer shall sign the statement referred to in subsection (5) after it has been signed by the administrator of or person appointed by the treatment centre.
87.53(7)When an additional poll is to be held under this section, the returning officer shall do the following:
(a) notify all candidates for the electoral district of the day, time and place for holding the additional poll; and
(b) take all reasonable steps to notify residents or patients of the treatment centre of the day, time and place for holding the additional poll.
87.53(8)When an additional poll is held under this section, the special ballot papers used shall be the special ballot papers used for the electoral district in which the treatment centre is located.
87.53(9)An elector who is temporarily resident in a treatment centre at the time of an election may vote in the electoral district in which he or she is ordinarily resident by applying for a special ballot paper under section 87.6.
2010, c.6, s.94
Additional polls - single electoral district
87.54(1)Before the first day of advance polls, the returning officer, in consultation with the Chief Electoral Officer, shall determine if an additional poll should be held in the electoral district at any of the following for the convenience of electors:
(a) an isolated community;
(b) a regional service centre;
(c) a university or college campus;
(d) a senior citizens’ apartment building or an assisted living facility.
87.54(2)If it is determined that an additional poll should be held under this section, the returning officer shall fix the day, time and place for holding the additional poll.
87.54(3)When an additional poll is to be held under this section, the returning officer shall do the following:
(a) notify all candidates for the electoral district of the day, time and place for holding the additional poll; and
(b) take all reasonable steps to notify the electors served by the poll of the day, time and place for holding the additional poll.
87.54(4)When an additional poll is held under this section, the special voting officers shall set up the polling station to take the vote, at the fixed day, time and place, of any electors served by the poll who choose to vote at the polling station.
87.54(5)When an additional poll is held under this section, the special ballot papers used shall be the special ballot papers used for the electoral district in which the poll is located.
2010, c.6, s.94
Additional polls generally
87.55(1)An additional poll shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
87.55(2)Special voting officers shall provide any necessary assistance to electors in accordance with section 83.
87.55(3)Special voting officers shall count and report the votes cast at an additional poll in accordance with the provisions respecting special ballots in section 87.64 and the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
87.55(4)An elector who is a resident or a patient of a treatment centre, community or region where an additional poll is to be held may vote as follows:
(a) at the additional poll;
(b) at the ordinary poll or an advance poll for the polling division in which the elector ordinarily resides; or
(c) by applying for a special ballot paper under section 87.6.
2010, c.6, s.94
Application for special ballot paper
87.6(1)An elector may apply in the manner and form prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer to a special voting officer for a special ballot paper for the electoral district in which the elector ordinarily resides.
87.6(2)An application under subsection (1) may be made at any time after the writ is issued and shall be made in time to permit the return of the special ballot paper to the special voting officers no later than 8 p.m. on ordinary polling day.
87.6(3)When applying for a special ballot paper, a person who is qualified to vote and whose name does not appear on the list of electors for the electoral district in which the person ordinarily resides may apply to have his or her name added to the list in accordance with subsection 75.01(1).
2010, c.6, s.94
Issuance of special ballot paper
87.61(1)Before issuing a special ballot paper, a special voting officer shall ensure that the applicant’s name appears on the list of electors for the electoral district in which the applicant ordinarily resides and shall ensure that the applicant has not previously voted at the election.
87.61(2)A special voting officer shall issue a special ballot paper by doing one of the following:
(a) giving it to the elector at an office of the returning officer; or
(b) forwarding it by registered mail or courier to the address of the elector shown on the application.
87.61(3)Despite subsection (2), the special voting officers may issue a special ballot paper by personally delivering it to an elector outside an office of the returning officer if they are satisfied that the elector will be unable to attend the ordinary or advance polls due to the illness or incapacity of the elector or due to the illness or incapacity of a person for whose care the elector is primarily responsible.
87.61(4)On issuing a special ballot paper to an elector, a special voting officer shall record the following in the special ballot poll book:
(a) the name and address of the elector;
(b) the electoral district and the polling division in which the elector ordinarily resides;
(c) where and when the special ballot paper was issued to the elector; and
(d) whether the special ballot paper was issued in person, by registered mail or by courier.
87.61(5)If a special voting officer is unavailable, a returning officer or an election clerk may issue a special ballot paper to an elector under paragraph (2)(a) and shall take the vote of an elector in the same manner as a special voting officer under subsection 87.62(1).
87.61(6)If a special ballot paper is issued to an elector under paragraph (2)(b), the following shall be issued with the special ballot paper:
(a) instructions indicating how to complete and return the special ballot paper; and
(b) a ballot envelope and a certificate envelope.
2010, c.6, s.94
Voting by special ballot paper
87.62(1)If a special ballot paper is issued to an elector in accordance with paragraph 87.61(2)(a) or subsection 87.61(3),
(a) the elector shall do the following:
(i) mark the special ballot paper in favour of the candidate for whom he or she votes in the space provided for this on the special ballot paper;
(ii) place a mark on the special ballot paper beside the word “yes” or “no” opposite a question submitted to plebiscite; and
(iii) deposit the special ballot paper in the ballot box; and
(b) the special voting officer shall record in the special ballot poll book that the elector has voted.
87.62(2)If a special ballot paper is issued to an elector under subsection 87.61(3), 2 special voting officers shall be present to take the vote of the elector.
87.62(3)On receipt of a special ballot paper issued under paragraph 87.61(2)(b), an elector shall do the following:
(a) mark the special ballot paper in favour of the candidate for whom he or she votes in the space provided for this on the special ballot paper;
(b) place a mark on the special ballot paper beside the word “yes” or “no” opposite a question submitted to plebiscite;
(c) place it in the ballot envelope and seal the ballot envelope;
(d) place the ballot envelope in the certificate envelope and seal the certificate envelope;
(e) complete and sign the certificate on the certificate envelope; and
(f) return the certificate envelope to the special voting officer who issued the special ballot paper no later than 8 p.m. on ordinary polling day.
87.62(4)On receipt of a certificate envelope, the special voting officers, acting together, shall ensure the following:
(a) that the certificate envelope is properly completed;
(b) that the name on the certificate envelope is the same as that of the elector to whom a special ballot paper was issued; and
(c) that the signature on the certificate envelope appears to be the signature of the elector who applied for the special ballot paper.
87.62(5)If the special voting officers are satisfied that the requirements of subsection (4) have been fulfilled, they shall do the following:
(a) remove the ballot envelope from the certificate envelope;
(b) deposit the unopened ballot envelope in the special ballot box;
(c) record in the special ballot poll book the date and time that the certificate envelope was received and that the elector named on the certificate has voted; and
(d) destroy the certificate envelope.
87.62(6)If the special voting officers are not satisfied that the requirements of subsection (4) have been fulfilled, they shall mark “spoiled ballot paper” on the certificate envelope and deposit the unopened certificate envelope in an envelope designated for spoiled ballot papers.
87.62(7)If a special voting officer or a returning officer receives a certificate envelope after 8 p.m. on ordinary polling day, the certificate envelope shall be dealt with in accordance with subsection (6), and he or she shall record in the special ballot poll book the time, date and place that the certificate envelope was received.
87.62(8)An elector who has not returned a certificate envelope in accordance with paragraph (3)(f) shall not be issued a second special ballot paper unless he or she does one of the following:
(a) returns the damaged or improperly marked special ballot paper that was originally issued to the elector to the special voting officer; or
(b) provides the special voting officer with an affidavit stating that he or she has reason to believe that the special ballot paper will not be received by the special voting officers by 8 p.m. on ordinary polling day, and the affidavit shall include the basis for the elector’s belief.
87.62(9)An elector who has inadvertently dealt with a special ballot paper delivered to him or her in such a manner that it cannot conveniently be used shall return it to the special voting officer, who shall deface the special ballot paper so as to render it a spoiled ballot paper and deliver another special ballot paper to the elector.
87.62(10)If an elector is unable to vote without assistance, a special voting officer may assist the elector in completing a special ballot paper in the presence of another special voting officer, the returning officer or an election clerk.
2010, c.6, s.94
Special ballot boxes — location and care
87.63(1)There shall be at least 2 special ballot boxes in each electoral district, one of which may be affixed to a vote tabulation machine on the direction of the Chief Electoral Officer.
87.63(2)In the presence of the returning officer or an election clerk, the special voting officers shall seal the special ballot boxes before any special ballot papers are issued, and, subject to subsection (3), the boxes shall remain sealed until after the close of the polls on the ordinary polling day.
87.63(3)The special voting officers shall open all of the special ballot boxes and the additional poll boxes which are not affixed to a vote tabulation machine and deal with the special ballots contained in them in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
87.63(4)Special ballot boxes opened under subsection (3) shall be opened
(a) on the Sunday immediately before ordinary polling day at the time designated by the returning officer, who shall notify all candidates in the electoral district of the designated time;
(b) in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer; and
(c) in the presence of the returning officer or an election clerk and, if they choose to attend, a scrutineer appointed by each candidate.
87.63(5)After the special ballots have been dealt with in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer, the special ballot boxes shall be resealed for use in voting until the close of the polls on the ordinary polling day.
2010, c.6, s.94
Special ballots — counting
87.64(1)Immediately following the close of the polls on ordinary polling day and in the presence of the returning officer or an election clerk, the special voting officers shall ensure that the special ballots are counted at an office of the returning officer and they shall complete all other procedures provided by this Act and prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer with respect to the conduct of an election after the close of the polls on ordinary polling day.
87.64(2)The special voting officers, in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer, shall ensure that the special ballots for each electoral district are counted and recorded separately and shall ensure that the returning officer for each electoral district for which they have special ballots is notified of the number of votes given for each candidate in that district.
2010, c.6, s.94
PEACE AND ORDER AT ELECTIONS
Peace and order at election
88(1)From the time a poll supervisor takes the oath of office until completion of the performance of his or her duties as a poll supervisor, he or she is a conservator of the peace vested with all the powers of a peace officer and may do any of the following:
(a) require the assistance of peace officers, constables or other persons present to aid him or her in maintaining peace and good order at the election;
(b) arrest or cause by verbal order to be arrested and place or cause to be placed in the custody of a constable or other person, any person disturbing the peace and good order at the election,
(c) cause such arrested person to be imprisoned under an order signed by him until an hour not later than the close of the poll, and
(d) remove or cause to be removed on the day of an advance poll or the ordinary polling day any advertisement, handbill, placard, poster, billboard, electronic billboard, or any other means of display in any form having reference to an election, a candidate or a matter to be voted on at a plebiscite which is displayed within 30 metres of a polling station.
88(2)Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.95
1967, c.9, s.88; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.25; 1997, c.53, s.16; 1998, c.32, s.64; 2010, c.6, s.95
COUNTING AND REPORTING THE VOTE
Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.96
2010, c.6, s.96
Repealed
89Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.97
1967, c.9, s.89; 1991, c.48, s.17; 2006, c.6, s.33; 2010, c.6, s.97
Repealed
90Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.98
1967, c.9, s.90; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.12; 2006, c.6, s.34; 2010, c.6, s.98
Repealed
91Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.99
1967, c.9, s.91; 1973, c.74, s.29; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.13; 1980, c.17, s.33; 1991, c.48, s.18; 1998, c.32, s.65; 2006, c.6, s.35; 2010, c.6, s.99
PROCEDURES AT CLOSING OF POLLS
2010, c.6, s.100
Interim closure of advance poll
91.1At the closing of an advance poll that will be reopened on the next or a later day, the election officers shall follow the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer with respect to the following:
(a) securing and safeguarding the cast ballots, the unissued ballot papers, the lists of electors and all other materials and equipment used at that polling station until the poll is reopened; and
(b) reopening the poll for voting on the next or later day.
2010, c.6, s.100
Closure of ordinary and advance polls
91.2 At the closing of a poll on ordinary polling day or the final closure of an advance poll, election officers shall follow the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer with respect to the following:
(a) counting, reporting and recording of the votes cast at the polling stations; and
(b) delivering the ballots, the ballot boxes, the lists of electors, the statement of votes cast, and all other poll materials and equipment to the returning officer.
2010, c.6, s.100
PROCEEDINGS OF RETURNING OFFICER
AFTER RETURN OF BALLOT BOXES
Safekeeping of ballot boxes
92On receiving a ballot box, the returning officer shall take every precaution for its safekeeping and for preventing any person other than the returning officer and an election clerk from having access to it.
1967, c.9, s.92; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.14; 1980, c.17, s.34; 2006, c.6, s.36; 2010, c.6, s.101
Declaration of elected candidates
92.1(1)On the day fixed for candidates to be declared elected, in the presence of an election clerk and of those candidates or their representatives who are present, the returning officer shall do the following:
(a) from the poll materials received from the polling stations, determine the total number of votes given for each candidate and determine any question submitted to plebiscite; and
(b) declare the candidate having the greatest number of votes to be elected and declare the result of any plebiscite.
92.1(2)The returning officer shall do the following with respect to a declaration under subsection (1):
(a) make the declaration in the prescribed form; and
(b) immediately deliver or mail to each candidate and to the Chief Electoral Officer a copy of the declaration.
92.1(3)If, on determining the total number of votes given for each candidate, an equality of votes is found to exist between any 2 or more candidates and an additional vote would entitle one of those candidates to be declared elected, the returning officer shall cast the deciding vote.
92.1(4)After a candidate has been declared elected, the statements of votes cast, the recapitulation sheets and all other election documents and materials shall be prepared for delivery to the Chief Electoral Officer in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer.
2010, c.6, s.102
Declaration of elected candidates when poll materials missing
93(1)If a ballot box, a vote tabulation machine or a statement of votes cast has been destroyed, lost or for any other reason is not returned to the returning officer before the day fixed for candidates to be declared elected, the returning officer shall determine the cause of the poll material’s disappearance and shall obtain from the responsible poll supervisor, or from any other person who has it, a copy of the statement of votes cast, which shall be verified on oath.
93(2)If the returning officer is unable to locate a copy of a statement of votes cast under subsection (1), the returning officer, in the presence of an election clerk and of the candidates or their representatives who are present, may open the appropriate ballot box to retrieve the statement of votes cast contained in it and shall immediately reseal the ballot box.
93(3)If the statement of votes cast or a copy cannot be obtained, the returning officer shall determine the total number of votes given for each candidate at each polling station by the evidence that he or she is able to obtain.
93(4)In order to make a determination under subsection (3), the returning officer may do the following:
(a) summon an election officer or any other person to appear before the returning officer at a day and time to be fixed by the returning officer;
(b) in that summons, direct the election officer or other person to bring all necessary papers and documents with him or her; and
(c) examine under oath the election officer or other person respecting the matter in question.
93(5)If the returning officer intends to proceed under subsection (4), he or she shall give adequate notice of the day and time of the proceedings to each of the candidates.
93(6)In a case under subsection (1) or (3), the returning officer shall do the following:
(a) declare elected the candidate appearing to have the greatest number of votes; and
(b) prepare and send to the Chief Electoral Officer a report with the return of the votes, which report shall state the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the poll material or the missing statement of votes cast and the method by which he or she determined the number of votes given for each candidate.
93(7)A person who refuses or neglects to attend on the summons of a returning officer issued under this section is guilty of an offence.
1967, c.9, s.93; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.15; 1980, c.17, s.35; 1990, c.61, s.38; 1991, c.48, s.19; 1998, c.32, s.66; 2010, c.6, s.103
JUDICIAL RECOUNT
2010, c.6, s.104
Judicial recount - application
94(1)Within 4 days after the returning officer has declared a candidate elected, an elector of the electoral district may apply for a recount to a judge of The Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick for the judicial district within which the electoral district is situated.
94(2)When an application is made under this section on the grounds of the closeness of the vote, the judge shall fix a time and a place for the recount, without requiring security for costs, if the report of the returning officer discloses that there is a difference of not more than 25 votes between the number of votes cast for the candidate declared elected and another candidate.
94(3)When an application is made under this section on grounds other than the closeness of the vote, the judge shall fix a time and a place for the recount if
(a) it is made to appear to the judge by the affidavit of a credible witness that one of the following has occurred:
(i) an election officer or a vote tabulation machine failed to count, improperly counted or improperly rejected any ballots or made an incorrect statement of the number of votes cast for a candidate; or
(ii) the returning officer improperly added up the votes; and
(b) the applicant deposits with the clerk of the court $200 as security for the costs of the candidate who was declared elected.
94(4)If a recount is held under this section, it shall be held within 4 days after the application is made to the judge.
94(5)If applications for recounts in 2 or more electoral districts are made to the same judge, the judge shall proceed first with the recount in the electoral district in respect of which the first application was made to him or her, and successively with the recounts in the electoral districts in respect of which applications were later made, and all recounts shall proceed continuously from day to day until the last of them has been completed.
1967, c.9, s.94; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.26; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.16; 1979, c.41, s.42; 1980, c.17, s.36; 2006, c.6, s.37; 2010, c.6, s.105; 2023, c.17, s.64
Judicial recount - notice and attendance
94.1(1)The judge shall give written notice to the candidates of the time and place fixed for a recount and, at the time of the application or afterwards, he or she may decide and announce that service of the notice will be substituted, by mail, by posting or in any other manner.
94.1(2)The judge shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer of the time and place fixed for a recount, and the Chief Electoral Officer may attend the recount or may designate a member of the staff of Elections New Brunswick to attend.
94.1(3)The judge shall summon the returning officer and the election clerk to attend at the time and place fixed for a recount and to produce, with respect to the relevant electoral district, the envelopes or ballot transfer boxes containing the counted ballots, the rejected ballots and the spoiled ballot papers and the statements of votes cast signed by the appropriate poll officials.
94.1(4)The returning officer and the election clerk shall obey a summons under subsection (3) and shall attend throughout the proceedings.
94.1(5)Each candidate is entitled to attend the proceedings of a recount and is entitled to have in attendance not more than 3 representatives he or she has appointed to attend.
94.1(6)If a candidate does not attend or is not represented at a recount, any 3 electors who may demand to attend on his or her behalf are entitled to attend.
94.1(7)Except with the authorization of the judge, no person other than those set out in this section shall be present at a recount.
2010, c.6, s.106
Proceedings at a judicial recount
94.2(1)At the time and place fixed for a recount and in the presence of those people in attendance, the judge
(a) shall recount all the votes on ballots returned by the appropriate poll officials,
(b) shall open the sealed envelopes or boxes containing the counted ballots, the rejected ballots and the spoiled ballot papers, and
(c) shall not open any other envelopes or boxes containing other documents.
94.2(2)In recounting the votes, the judge shall do the following:
(a) review the procedures prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer for election officers with respect to the issuing of ballot papers and the counting, reporting and recording of the votes cast;
(b) in accordance with the procedures referred to in paragraph (a), determine the number of votes given to each candidate;
(c) verify or correct the statements of the votes cast; and
(d) if necessary or required, review a determination of the returning officer under section 93 and, for the purpose of arriving at the facts as to the missing election materials, the judge may summon and examine witnesses in the same manner as a returning officer under subsection 93(4), and a witness so summoned is subject to the same consequences as in the case of refusing or neglecting to attend on the summons of a returning officer.
94.2(3)In the course of a recount, the judge shall not do the following:
(a) reject a ballot by reason only that the ballot issuing officer failed to initial the ballot paper; and
(b) count a vote that was not counted by a vote tabulation machine because the voter placed his or her mark on the ballot in an area other than the area specifically indicated for a voter to place his or her mark.
94.2(4)As far as practicable, the judge shall proceed continuously with a recount, except during the following:
(a) Sundays;
(b) between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. the following day, unless he or she directs otherwise; and
(c) the recesses necessary for refreshment.
94.2(5)During a recess or excluded time, the ballots, ballot papers and other documents shall be kept in parcels under the seals of the judge and of any other person present who wishes to affix his or her seal.
94.2(6)The judge shall personally supervise the parcelling and sealing and shall take all necessary precautions for keeping those papers and documents secure.
94.2(7)At the conclusion of a recount, the judge shall do the following:
(a) seal all the ballots, ballot papers and statements of votes cast in separate packages;
(b) add the number of votes cast for each candidate as ascertained at the recount; and
(c) immediately certify in writing, in the prescribed form, the result of the recount to the returning officer.
94.2(8)On receiving a certificate under paragraph (7)(c), the returning officer shall declare elected the candidate who has obtained the greatest number of votes and shall complete the return of the writ in accordance with subsection 96(1).
94.2(9)The judge shall deliver a copy of the certificate under paragraph (7)(c) to each candidate in the same manner as the declaration delivered by the returning officer under subsection 92.1(2), and the judge’s certificate shall be deemed to be substituted for that declaration.
94.2(10)If there is an equality of votes, despite that he or she may have voted under subsection 92.1(3), the returning officer shall cast the deciding vote.
2010, c.6, s.106
Costs on a judicial recount
94.3(1)If a recount does not alter the result of the poll so as to affect the return, the judge shall do the following:
(a) order the costs of the candidate appearing to be elected to be paid by the applicant; and
(b) tax the costs, following as closely as possible the tariff of costs allowed with respect to proceedings in the court in which the judge ordinarily presides.
94.3(2)Despite paragraph (1)(a), if the application was made under subsection 94(2), the costs of the candidate appearing to be elected shall be an expense of the returning officer for the electoral district in respect of which the application was made.
94.3(3)The moneys deposited as security for costs, so far as necessary, shall be paid out to the candidate in whose favour costs are awarded and, if the deposit is insufficient, the party in whose favour the costs are awarded has a cause of action for the balance.
2010, c.6, s.106
PROCEDURE IF JUDGE OF THE COURT
OF QUEEN’S BENCH OF
NEW BRUNSWICK FAILS TO COMPLY
Repealed: 2006, c.6, s.38
2006, c.6, s.38
Repealed
95Repealed: 2006, c.6, s.39
1967, c.9, s.95; 1979, c.41, s.42; 1982, c.3, s.16; 2006, c.6, s.39
ELECTION RETURN
Election returns
96(1)On or before the eleventh day following ordinary polling day, the returning officer shall do the following:
(a) complete the return of the writ on the prescribed form; and
(b) in accordance with the instructions of the Chief Electoral Officer, deliver the return of the writ and all documents and materials related to the election to the Chief Electoral Officer.
96(2)If a recount has been ordered, the duties of the returning officer under subsection (1) shall be executed on the day following the completion of the recount.
96(3)The returning officer shall forward to each of the candidates a copy of the return of the writ.
96(4)On receiving the return of a writ, the Chief Electoral Officer shall publish in the next issue of The Royal Gazette a notice of the return and the name of the elected candidate.
96(5)On receiving all of the returns of the writs for an election, the Chief Electoral Officer shall deliver a summary of the returns to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, who shall lay the summary before the Legislative Assembly at the next session after the election.
1967, c.9, s.96; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.17; 1978, c.D-11.2, s.18; 1979, c.41, s.42; 1991, c.48, s.20; 1998, c.32, s.67; 2006, c.6, s.40; 2007, c.30, s.22; 2010, c.6, s.107
REPORT OF CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER
Report of Chief Electoral Officer
97(1)The Chief Electoral Officer shall, before the commencement of, or during, any session of the Legislature, make a report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly as to any matter or event that has arisen or occurred in connection with any election in the interval since the date of his next preceding report and that he considers should be brought to the attention of the House.
97(2)Any report received from the Chief Electoral Officer by the Speaker shall be forthwith submitted by him to the Legislative Assembly.
1967, c.9, s.97; 1980, c.17, s.37; 2007, c.30, s.22
CUSTODY OF ELECTION DOCUMENTS
Custody and inspection of election documents
98(1)The Chief Electoral Officer shall retain in his possession the election documents transmitted to him by any returning officer with the return to the writ for at least one year, if the election is not contested during that time, and, if the election is contested, then for one year after the termination of the contest and thereafter the documents shall be deposited with the provincial archivist or such other person as the Lieutenant-Governor in Council may direct.
98(1.1)The Chief Electoral Officer may, forthwith after the return of election documents under subsection (1), use the lists of electors and all records of revisions or additions to the lists of electors and any other records relating to electors that may be included in the election documents to produce the final list of electors and to establish or update the register of electors.
98(2)Except as provided in subsection (1.1), no election documents shall be inspected or produced except by an order of a judge of The Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick during the period they are retained in the possession of the Chief Electoral Officer pursuant to subsection (1).
98(3)Where a judge of The Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick has ordered the inspection or production of any election documents the Chief Electoral Officer need not, unless the judge otherwise orders, appear personally to produce such documents or papers, but it is sufficient if the Chief Electoral Officer certifies such documents or papers and transmits them by registered mail to the clerk of The Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick for the judicial district in which the judge who has ordered the inspection or production of the election documents resides, and the clerk shall, when such documents have served the purposes of the judge, return them by registered mail to the Chief Electoral Officer.
98(4)Any such documents or papers purporting to be certified by the Chief Electoral Officer are receivable in evidence without further proof thereof.
98(5)An order may be granted by a judge on his being satisfied by evidence on oath that the inspection or production of such election documents is required for the purpose of instituting or maintaining a prosecution for an offence relating to an election, or for the purpose of a petition that has been filed questioning an election or return or for other good cause.
98(6)Any such order for the inspection or production of election documents may be made subject to such conditions as to persons, time, place and mode of inspection or production as the judge deems expedient.
98(7)All other reports or statements received from election officers, all instructions issued by the Chief Electoral Officer pursuant to the provisions of this Act, all decisions or rulings by him upon points arising thereunder, and all correspondence with election officers or others in relation to any election shall be public records, and may be inspected by any person upon request during business hours.
98(8)A person may take extracts from those election documents which are public records and is entitled to receive certified copies of those documents on payment of $0.50 per page.
98(9)Any such copies purporting to be certified by the Chief Electoral Officer under his hand are receivable in evidence without further proof thereof.
1967, c.9, s.98; 1979, c.41, s.42; 1980, c.32, s.7; 1985, c.45, s.21; 1998, c.32, s.68; 2010, c.6, s.108; 2023, c.17, s.64
ADVANCE POLL
Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.109
2010, c.6, s.109
Repealed
99Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.110
1967, c.9, s.99; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.27; 1997, c.53, s.18; 1998, c.32, s.69; 2006, c.6, s.41; 2010, c.6, s.110
Repealed
100Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.111
1967, c.9, s.100; 2006, c.6, s.42; 2010, c.6, s.111
Repealed
101Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.112
1967, c.9, s.101; 1980, c.17, s.38; 1998, c.32, s.70; 2006, c.6, s.43; 2010, c.6, s.112
Repealed
102Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.113
1967, c.9, s.102; 1980, c.17, s.39; 1998, c.32, s.71; 2006, c.6, s.44; 2010, c.6, s.113
Repealed
103Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.114
1967, c.9, s.103; 1980, c.17, s.40; 1997, c.53, s.19; 1998, c.32, s.72; 2006, c.6, s.45; 2010, c.6, s.114
Repealed
104Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.115
1967, c.9, s.104; 1998, c.32, s.73; 2010, c.6, s.115
Repealed
105Repealed: 2006, c.6, s.46
1967, c.9, s.105; 1990, c.61, s.38; 2006, c.6, s.46
OFFENCES
Offences respecting vote
106(1)Every person who
(a) directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, gives, lends or agrees to give or lend, or offers or promises, or promises to procure or to endeavour to procure, any money or valuable consideration, to or for an elector, or to or for any person on behalf of an elector, or to or for any other person, in order to induce any elector to vote or refrain from voting, or corruptly does any such act on account of such elector having voted or refrained from voting at an election;
(b) directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, gives or procures, or agrees to give or procure, or offers, promises, or promises to procure, or to endeavour to procure, any office, place or employment to or for an elector, or to or for any person on behalf of an elector, or to or for any other person, in order to induce such elector to vote or refrain from voting, or corruptly does any such act as aforesaid on account of any elector having voted or refrained from voting at any election;
(c) directly or indirectly by himself or any other person on his behalf, makes any such gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement or agreement, to or for any person, in order to induce such person to procure or endeavour to procure the return of any person to serve in the Legislative Assembly, or to procure the vote of any other elector at an election;
(d) upon or in consequence of any such gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement or agreement, procures or promises or endeavours to procure the return of any person to serve in the Legislative Assembly, or the vote of any elector at an election;
(e) advances or pays, or causes to be paid, any money to or to the use of any other person, with the intent that such money or any part thereof shall be expended in bribery at an election, or knowingly pays or causes to be paid any money to a person in discharge or repayment of any money wholly or in part expended in bribery at an election;
(f) directly or indirectly by himself or by any other person on his behalf on account of and as payment for voting or for his having voted or for illegally agreeing or having agreed to vote for any candidate at an election, or account of and as payment for his having illegally assisted or agreed to assist a candidate at an election, applied to such candidate or to his agent or agents, for the gift or loan of any money or valuable consideration, or for the promise of the gift or loan of any money or valuable consideration or for any office, place of employment, or for the promise of any office, place or employment;
(g) before or during an election, directly or indirectly by himself or by any other person on his behalf, receives, agrees or contracts for any money, gift, loan or valuable consideration, office, place or employment, for himself or for any other person, for voting or agreeing to vote, or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting at the election;
(h) after an election, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, receives any money or valuable consideration on account of himself or any other person having voted or refrained from voting, or having induced any other person to vote or refrain from voting at the election; or
(i) in order to induce a person to allow himself to be nominated as a candidate, or to refrain from becoming a candidate or to withdraw, if he has become a candidate, gives or procures any office, place or employment, or agrees to give or procure, or offers or promises to procure, or to endeavour to procure any office, place or employment for such person;
is guilty of the corrupt practice of bribery.
106(2)The terms of this section do not extend and shall not be construed to extend to any money paid or agreed to be paid for or on account of any expenses legally payable and bona fide incurred at or concerning any election; and the actual personal expenses of a candidate and his expenses for professional services actually performed and for the fair cost of printing and advertising and for halls or rooms for the holding of meetings shall be held to be expenses legally payable.
1967, c.9, s.106; 2006, c.6, s.47
Offences respecting impersonation
107Every person who
(a) applies under this Act to be included in the register of electors or any list of electors in any name other than his own,
(b) at an election applies to vote in any name other than his own,
(c) having voted once at an election, applies to vote again at the same election, or
(d) aids, abets, counsels, procures or endeavours to procure the commission by any person of any of the acts in this section defined,
is guilty of the corrupt practice of personation.
1967, c.9, s.107; 1998, c.32, s.74
Offences respecting undue influence
108Every person is guilty of the corrupt practice of undue influence who, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, makes use of, or threatens to make use of any force, violence or restraint, in order to induce or compel any other person to vote for any candidate or to refrain from voting.
1967, c.9, s.108
Offences respecting corrupt practices
109Every person is guilty of a corrupt practice who does any of the following during an election:
(a) takes a ballot paper out of a polling station;
(b) without authority, intentionally destroys, takes, opens or otherwise interferes with a ballot box or a vote tabulation machine;
(c) without authority, intentionally destroys, takes or otherwise interferes with a list of electors;
(d) without authority, intentionally destroys, takes or otherwise interferes with equipment on which a list of electors or a record of who has voted is maintained or with the information on that equipment;
(e) being an election officer, places on a ballot paper a writing, number or mark with the intent that the elector to whom the ballot paper is to be or has been given may be identified by it; or
(f) attempts to commit any offence specified in this section.
1967, c.9, s.109; 2010, c.6, s.116
Repealed
109.1Repealed: 2006, c.6, s.48
1980, c.17, s.41; 2006, c.6, s.48
Offences respecting unqualified voters
110Everyone who, at an election, votes or attempts to vote knowing that he is for any reason not qualified to vote thereat, is guilty of an offence.
1967, c.9, s.110
Offences respecting inducing non-qualified person to vote
111(1)Every person who induces or procures any other person to vote at an election, knowing that such other person is for any reason not qualified to vote at the election is guilty of an illegal practice.
111(2)Repealed: 1987, c.4, s.4
1967, c.9, s.111; 1987, c.4, s.4
Repealed
112Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.117
1967, c.9, s.112; 2010, c.6, s.117
Offences respecting unauthorized use of lists of electors or register of electors
112.1A person commits an offence who uses a list of electors or the register of electors, or an extract from either of them, for a purpose other than those specifically provided for in this Act.
1998, c.32, s.75; 2010, c.6, s.118
Offence respecting polling station information
112.2A candidate, agent or representative of a candidate, or representative of a political party with which a candidate is affiliated, who, at any time prior to or on polling day, knowingly causes incorrect information to be given to an elector respecting the polling station where that elector may vote is guilty of an illegal practice.
2010, c.6, s.119
Offences respecting administration of oath
113An election officer authorized under subsection 124(2) to administer an oath who, on request of any candidate or scrutineer or elector representing a candidate, neglects or refuses to administer any oath authorized or required to be administered by the election officer to an elector, shall for every such neglect or refusal pay the sum of two hundred dollars.
1967, c.9, s.113; 1991, c.48, s.21; 1998, c.32, s.76; 2006, c.6, s.49
Offences by election officers
114An election officer who wilfully violates or disobeys any of the provisions of this Act with respect to any matter or thing such person is required to do commits an offence.
1967, c.9, s.114; 1990, c.61, s.38
Repealed
115Repealed: 1978, c.17, s.2
1967, c.9, s.115; 1978, c.17, s.2
Offences respecting defaced printing matter
116(1)Any person unlawfully taking down, covering up, mutilating, defacing or altering any printed or written proclamation, notice, or other document authorized or required by this Act to be posted up, is guilty of an offence.
116(2)Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.120
1967, c.9, s.116; 1990, c.61, s.38; 1998, c.32, s.77; 2006, c.6, s.50; 2010, c.6, s.120
Prohibited electioneering
117(1)No person shall furnish or supply any loud speaker, bunting, ensign, banner, standard or set of colours, or any other flag, to any person with intent that it shall be carried, worn or used on automobiles, trucks or other vehicles, as political propaganda, on the ordinary polling day; and no person shall, with any such intent, carry, wear or use, on automobiles, trucks or other vehicles, any such loud speaker, bunting, ensign, banner, standard or set of colours, or any other flag, on the ordinary polling day.
117(1.1)No person shall on the day of an advance poll or on the ordinary polling day use a loud speaker or any other device to amplify, project or convey a person’s voice or a sound for the purpose of conveying political propaganda that can be heard within thirty metres of the premises in which a polling station is located.
117(2)No person shall furnish or supply any flag, ribbon, label or like favour to or for any person with intent that it be worn or used by any person on premises in which a polling station is located on the day of election or polling day as a party badge to distinguish the wearer as the supporter of any candidate, or of the political or other opinions entertained or supposed to be entertained by such candidate, and no person shall use or wear any flag, ribbon, label or other favour as such badge on the day of election or polling day on premises in which a polling station is located.
117(3)No person shall, on the ordinary polling day or on the day immediately preceding it,
(a) broadcast over any radio or television station,
(i) a speech,
(ii) any entertainment, or
(iii) any advertising program; or
(b) publish or cause to be published in any newspaper, magazine or similar publication,
(i) a speech, or
(ii) any advertising; or
(c) transmit, convey or cause to be transmitted or conveyed by any means to telephones, computers, telecopier machines or any other device capable of receiving unsolicited communications,
(i) a speech,
(ii) any entertainment, or
(iii) any advertising;
in favour of or on behalf of any political party or any candidate, but this subsection shall be deemed not to prohibit a bona fide news broadcast or news publication referring to or commenting upon a speech or containing any excerpts from a speech.
117(4)Any person who uses, aids, abets, counsels or procures the use of,
(a) any radio or television station,
(b) any newspaper, magazine or similar publication, or
(c) any means of transmitting or conveying communications to telephones, computers, telecopier machines or any other device capable of receiving unsolicited communications,
outside New Brunswick on the ordinary polling day or on the day immediately preceding it for the broadcasting, publication, transmission or conveyance of any matter having reference to the election, a candidate or a matter to be voted on at a plebiscite is guilty of an illegal practice.
117(5)Any person who, on the day of an advance poll or on the ordinary polling day, displays or causes to be displayed within 30 metres of a polling station any advertisement, handbill, placard, poster, dodger, billboard, electronic billboard or any other means of display having reference to an election, a candidate or a matter to be voted on at a plebiscite commits an illegal practice.
1967, c.9, s.117; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.28; 1980, c.17, s.42; 1985, c.45, s.22; 1997, c.53, s.20; 2006, c.6, s.51; 2010, c.6, s.121
PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE
Penalties respecting corrupt and illegal practices
118(1)A person who commits a corrupt practice commits an offence against this Act.
118(2)A person who commits an illegal practice commits an offence against this Act.
118(3)A person who violates or fails to comply with a provision of this Act that is listed in Column I of Schedule B commits an offence.
118(4)For the purposes of Part II of the Provincial Offences Procedure Act, each offence listed in Column I of Schedule B is punishable as an offence of the category listed beside it in Column II of Schedule B.
1967, c.9, s.118; 1990, c.61, s.38
Penalties respecting loss of voting rights
119Any person who is convicted of having committed any offence that is a corrupt or illegal practice shall, during the five years next after the date of his being convicted, in addition to any other punishment by this or any other Act prescribed, be disqualified from and be incapable of
(a) being registered as an elector or of voting at any election,
(b) holding any office in the nomination of the Crown or of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, or
(c) being elected to or sitting in the Legislative Assembly and, if at such date he has been elected to the Legislative Assembly, his seat shall be vacated from the time of such conviction.
1967, c.9, s.119
Penalties for failure to pay fines
120Repealed: 1990, c.61, s.38
1967, c.9, s.120; 1990, c.61, s.38
Parole evidence respecting election
121On the trial of any person charged with an offence against this Act, or any other proceeding arising out of the election, parole evidence of the election shall be sufficient prima facie evidence without producing the writ.
1967, c.9, s.121
Action for entertainment expenses
122No person shall recover from a candidate for entertainment furnished to any person at an election, and if upon a trial it appears that any part of the plaintiff’s claim is for entertainment so furnished, he shall be non-suited.
1967, c.9, s.122
SETTING ASIDE AN ELECTION
2005, c.11, s.3
Application to set aside an election
122.1(1)Within thirty days after an election writ has been returned under section 96, the following may apply to a judge of The Court of King’s Bench of New Brunswick to have the election of a member set aside:
(a) a person who had a right to vote at the election in the relevant electoral district, or
(b) a person who was a candidate for election in the relevant electoral district.
122.1(2)An application under subsection (1) may only be brought on the following grounds:
(a) the member was not eligible to be a candidate for election to the Legislative Assembly;
(b) the electoral procedures set out in this Act and the regulations were not properly followed in a manner that may have altered the outcome of the election;
(c) the member or someone acting on the member’s behalf contravened or failed to comply with a provision of this Act that is listed in Column I of Schedule B in a manner that may have altered the outcome of the election;
(d) the member or someone acting on the member’s behalf contravened or failed to comply with subsection 121(2) or section 377 of the Criminal Code (Canada) in a manner that may have altered the outcome of the election;
(e) the member or someone acting on the member’s behalf contravened or failed to comply with a provision of this Act that is listed in Column I of Schedule B and, having regard to the nature of the contravention or failure complained of and the degree of the member’s personal involvement in or responsibility for it, the contravention or failure is sufficiently serious that the member’s election ought to be set aside; or
(f) the member or someone acting on the member’s behalf contravened or failed to comply with subsection 121(2) or section 377 of the Criminal Code (Canada) and, having regard to the nature of the contravention or failure complained of and the degree of the member’s personal involvement in or responsibility for it, the contravention or failure is sufficiently serious that the member’s election ought to be set aside.
122.1(3)A person who brings an application under this section shall notify the Chief Electoral Officer in writing as soon as practicable that he or she has done so.
122.1(4)After hearing an application under this section, the judge may
(a) dismiss the application, or
(b) grant the application and make an order setting aside the member’s election and declaring the member’s seat vacant.
122.1(5)A judge shall dispose of an application under this section within six months after the election writ has been returned under section 96 or as soon as practicable after that six month period.
122.1(6)An order under paragraph (4)(b) shall come into effect when the period prescribed by law for appealing the order has expired without the order having been appealed.
122.1(7)If an order under paragraph (4)(b) is appealed within the period prescribed by law for appealing the order, the appeal stays the operation of the order pending the outcome of the appeal.
122.1(8)If the Court of Appeal dismisses an appeal of an order under paragraph (4)(b) or makes such an order in the first instance, the decision of the Court of Appeal shall come into effect when the period prescribed by law for appealing the decision has expired without the decision having been appealed.
122.1(9)If a decision of the Court of Appeal referred to in subsection (8) is appealed within the period prescribed by law for appealing the decision, the appeal stays the operation of the decision pending the outcome of the appeal.
122.1(10)An application under this section or the appeal of a decision of a judge under this section shall be conducted in accordance with the rules prescribed by regulation.
2005, c.11, s.3; 2023, c.17, s.64
FEES AND EXPENSES
Compensation to election officers
123(1)The compensation of returning officers and other persons employed at or with respect to an election under this Act and all expenses consequent thereupon shall be paid by the Minister of Finance and Treasury Board out of the Consolidated Fund, in accordance with the tariff of fees prescribed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.
123(2)The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing a tariff of fees applicable for payment of returning officers, others employed at or with respect to an election under this Act and members of the advisory committee.
123(3)All such fees, costs, allowances and expenses shall be paid by separate cheques issued from the office of the Minister of Finance and Treasury Board and sent directly to each person entitled to payment.
123(4)The returning officer shall certify all accounts submitted by him to the Chief Electoral Officer, and is responsible for their correctness.
123(5)Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.122
123(6)Any expenses incurred by the Chief Electoral Officer for printing election material, for the purchase of election supplies, and for anything pertaining to the carrying on of any election shall be certified by him, and the accounts forwarded to, and when approved, shall be paid by the Minister of Finance and Treasury Board.
123(7)Notwithstanding anything in this section, the rights, if any, of all claimants to compel payment or further payment by process of law remain unimpaired.
1967, c.9, s.123; O.C. 68-516; 1973, c.74, s.29; 1998, c.32, s.78; 2010, c.6, s.122; 2019, c.29, s.44
MISCELLANEOUS
Calculation of time and oaths, affirmations, affidavits and statuary declarations
124(1)Where anything is required by this Act to be done on or by a particular day, and such day falls on a holiday, such proceeding shall be sufficiently done if it is done on or by the first day following that is not a holiday.
124(2)When this Act authorizes or directs that an oath, affirmation, affidavit or statutory declaration be made, taken or administered, the oath, affirmation or declaration shall be made before and administered by the person who this Act or the regulations expressly requires administer it, and if no particular person is required to administer it, then by the judge of any court, the returning officer, an election clerk, a poll supervisor, a ballot issuing officer, a voters list officer, a special voting officer, a poll revision officer, a notary public or a commissioner of oaths.
124(3)If a person is required to take an oath, that person may make a solemn affirmation instead.
124(4)Any person before whom an oath may be taken or any affirmation made has power to administer it, and shall administer it gratuitously.
1967, c.9, s.124; 1984, c.27, s.7; 1998, c.32, s.79; 2006, c.6, s.52; 2010, c.6, s.123
NOTICES
Form of notices, posting, of notices and other documents
125(1)Where any election officer is by this Act authorized or required to give a public notice and no special mode of notification is indicated, the notice may be by advertisement, placard, handbill or otherwise as he considers will best effect the intended purpose.
125(2)Notices and other documents required by this Act to be posted up may, notwithstanding the provisions of any law of the Province or of any by-law of a local government, be affixed by means of tacks, pins or staples to any wooden fence situated on or adjoining any highway, or by means of tacks, pins, staples, gum or paste on any post or pole likewise situated, and such documents shall not be affixed to fences or poles in any manner otherwise.
1967, c.9, s.125; 2005, c.7, s.23; 2017, c.20, s.55
Publication of notices, proclamations, etc
125.1Where any provision of this Act requires a proclamation, notice or other document to be published in a newspaper circulated in an electoral district or polling division thereof, the proclamation, notice or other document
(a) may, in addition thereto, or
(b) shall, in lieu thereof if there is no newspaper circulated therein,
be posted in one or more conspicuous places within the electoral district or polling division, as the case may be.
1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.28.1
SIGNED PLEDGES BY CANDIDATES
PROHIBITED
Prohibited pledges by candidates
126It is an illegal practice and an offence against this Act for any candidate for election as a member to serve in the Legislative Assembly to sign any written document presented to him by way of demand or claim made upon him, by any person, persons or associations of persons, between the date of the issue of the writ of election and the date of polling, if such document requires the candidate to follow any course of action that will prevent him from exercising freedom of action in the Legislative Assembly if elected, or to resign as such member if called upon to do so by any person, persons or associations of persons.
1967, c.9, s.126
PEACE AND GOOD ORDER AT PUBLIC
MEETINGS
Offence respecting disruption of public meetings
127(1)Every person who, between the date of the issue of the writ and the day after polling at an election, acts in a disorderly manner, with intent to prevent the transaction of the business of a public meeting called for the purpose of the election, is guilty of an illegal practice and of an offence against this Act.
127(2)Every person who, between the date of the issue of the writ and the day after polling at an election, incites, combines or conspires with others to act in a disorderly manner with intent to prevent the transaction of the business of a public meeting called for the purpose of such election, is guilty of an offence.
1967, c.9, s.127
FORMS
Prescribing forms
128(1)The Chief Electoral Officer shall prescribe the forms required under this Act and may prescribe any other forms that he or she considers necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Act.
128(2)The Chief Electoral Officer may alter or vary any of the forms prescribed under subsection (1).
128(3)The Chief Electoral Officer shall give notice immediately to the leader of each registered political party of the alteration or variation of a form under subsection (2).
128(4)The Chief Electoral Officer shall ensure that every form is available in both official languages.
128(5)A form that is prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer shall be published on the Elections New Brunswick website.
128(6)The Regulations Act does not apply to forms prescribed under this section.
1967, c.9, s.128; 1973, c.74, s.29; 1980, c.17, s.43; 2010, c.6, s.124
REGULATIONS
2005, c.11, s.4
Regulations
128.1The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing the rules with respect to an application or an appeal under section 122.1.
1985, c.45, s.23; 1992, c.52, s.9; 2005, c.11, s.5; 2010, c.6, s.125
PLEBISCITES
Procedure for plebiscites
129(1)The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may, by proclamation issued not later than the date of an order in council commencing a general election, order the taking of a plebiscite for the purpose of submitting a question or questions to the electors of the Province at the same time as the general election.
129(2)The proclamation shall state fully the question to be submitted at the plebiscite in the same words and form as it will appear on the ballot paper.
129(3)A proclamation issued under this section shall be published in
(a) The Royal Gazette, and
(b) such newspapers as are prescribed in subsection 18(2).
129(4)Every person qualified to vote at the general election is qualified to vote upon any question submitted to the electors.
129(5)In an electoral district where a member is elected by acclamation the returning officer shall
(a) make his return of election as directed in section 56,
(b) issue a notice of taking of a poll in the form prescribed by regulation and publish the same in the same manner as a notice of grant of poll would have been required to be published under subsection 57(2), and
(c) proceed in all other respects to poll the votes of the electors upon any questions submitted to the electors in the same manner as if he had granted a poll under subsection 57(1).
129(6)A question shall be printed upon the ballot papers as indicated in the form prescribed by regulation and in each electoral district in which a poll has been granted shall be printed in like form following the names of the candidates.
129(7)The votes of electors in answer to a question shall be counted and reported as provided in sections 91.1 to 93 but the returning officer shall not vote in any event.
129(8)Where a ballot paper is incorrectly marked with respect to the candidates and one or more questions but correctly marked with respect to one or more other questions it shall be
(a) counted with respect to the questions for which it is correctly marked, and
(b) rejected with respect to the candidates and any questions for which it is incorrectly marked.
129(9)Where a ballot paper is incorrectly marked with respect to one or more questions but correctly marked with respect to
(a) the candidates, or
(b) the candidates and one or more questions,
it shall be
(c) counted with respect to the candidates and any questions for which it is correctly marked, and
(d) rejected with respect to the questions for which it is incorrectly marked.
129(10)Sections 94 to 94.3 do not apply to questions submitted to the electors.
129(11)The returning officer in each electoral district shall certify to the Chief Electoral Officer the total number of affirmative and negative votes given in answer to a question and the Chief Electoral Officer shall publish in The Royal Gazette a notice giving the number of such votes cast in each electoral district.
129(12)The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may make such regulations as he deems necessary for the purposes of this section.
1967, c.9, s.129; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.29; 1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.18; 1998, c.32, s.80; 2010, c.6, s.126
REGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES, DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS, INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES, LEADERSHIP CONTESTANTS AND NOMINATION CONTESTANTS
2015, c.17, s.1
Registry of political parties, district associations, independent candidates, leadership contestants and nomination contestants
130The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain a registry of political parties, district associations, independent candidates, leadership contestants and nomination contestants setting out the information required to be filed with him or her under sections 133, 134, 136, 136.1, 136.2, 144 and 146.
1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.30; 1978, c.17, s.3; 2015, c.17, s.1
Registration of political parties
131No political party other than
(a) the party of which the Premier is Leader;
(b) the party of the Leader of the Official Opposition;
(c) a party which at the last general election presented at least ten candidates; or
(d) a party whose leader was elected by a convention, which has district associations in at least ten electoral districts and that undertakes to present official candidates in at least ten electoral districts at the next general election
shall be registered.
1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.30; 1978, c.17, s.3; 2015, c.17, s.1
Registration of political parties – name or abbreviation of party
132The Chief Electoral Officer shall not register a political party where
(a) he is of the opinion that the name or the abbreviation of the party set forth in its application for registration so nearly resembles the name or abbreviation of another established political party as to be likely to be confused therewith; or
(b) in the application for registration, the name of the party includes the word “independent”.
1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.30; 1978, c.17, s.3
Registration in the Registry of Political Parties
133(1)Subject to sections 131 and 132 and subsection (2), the Chief Electoral Officer shall register in the Registry of Political Parties any political party that files with him an application for registration signed by the leader of the party setting out:
(a) the full name of the party;
(b) the party name or the abbreviation, if any, of the party name to be shown in any election documents or official materials;
(c) the name and address of the party leader;
(d) the address to which communications intended for the party may be addressed and where its books, records and accounts, including those pertaining to contributions to and expenditures by the party, are maintained; and
(e) the names and addresses of the officers of the party.
133(2)A political party mentioned in paragraph 131(d) shall, in addition:
(a) furnish, to the satisfaction of the Chief Electoral Officer proof of the existence of its district associations;
(b) establish, by a statement supported by the affidavit of its leader, the amount of money and other property at its disposal; and
(c) establish, by a statement supported by an affidavit of its leader, that it has complied with section 47 of the Political Process Financing Act.
133(3)Repealed: 2007, c.55, s.1
1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.30; 1978, c.17, s.3; 2007, c.55, s.1
REGISTERED DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS
1978, c.17, s.3
Registration of district associations
134(1)No district association other than one associated with a registered political party shall be registered.
134(2)No more than one district association of any registered political party may be registered for any electoral district.
1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.30; 1978, c.17, s.3
Registration in the Registry of District Associations
135Subject to section 134, the Chief Electoral Officer shall register in the Registry of District Associations any district association that files with him an application for registration signed by the leader of the registered political party associated with that association setting out:
(a) the full name of the district association;
(b) the district association name or the abbreviation, if any, of the district association name to be shown in any election documents or other official materials;
(c) the address to which communications intended for the district association may be addressed and where its books, records and accounts, including those pertaining to contributions to and expenditures by the district association, are maintained; and
(d) the names and addresses of the officers of the district association.
1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.30; 1978, c.17, s.3
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE
1978, c.17, s.3
Registration of independent candidate
136The Chief Electoral Officer shall register in the Registry of Independent Candidates the name of any individual who files with him an application for registration in writing signed by the individual and setting out:
(a) the full name and address of the individual;
(b) the name of the electoral district in which he intends to be an independent candidate; and
(c) the address to which communications intended for him may be addressed and where his books, records and accounts pertaining to contributions to and expenditures by him are or will be maintained.
1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.30; 1978, c.17, s.3
LEADERSHIP CONTESTANTS
2015, c.17, s.1
Leadership contestants
136.1(1)On being accepted as a leadership contestant by a registered political party, a leadership contestant shall register as soon as possible with the Chief Electoral Officer.
136.1(2)The Chief Electoral Officer shall register in the Registry of Leadership Contestants the name of any individual who files with him or her an application for registration in writing signed by the individual and setting out:
(a) the full name and address of the leadership contestant;
(b) the name of the registered political party for which he or she intends to be a leadership contestant;
(c) the name and address of the official representative of the leadership contestant;
(d) a statement signed by an authorized officer of the registered political party stating that the leadership contestant is accepted as a leadership contestant by that political party; and
(e) the address to which communications intended for him or her may be addressed and where his or her books, records and accounts pertaining to contributions to and expenditures by him or her are or will be maintained.
136.1(3)Following the holding of a leadership convention, a registered political party shall file with the Chief Electoral Officer a certificate of leadership convention signed by an authorized officer of the registered political party detailing the leadership convention, including the contestants who stood for election, the individual elected and the individuals who withdrew as contestants.
2015, c.17, s.1
NOMINATION CONTESTANTS
2015, c.17, s.1
Nomination contestants
136.2(1)On being accepted as a nomination contestant by a registered political party, a nomination contestant shall register as soon as possible with the Chief Electoral Officer.
136.2(2)The Chief Electoral Officer shall register in the Registry of Nomination Contestants the name of any individual who files with him or her an application for registration in writing signed by the individual and setting out:
(a) the full name and address of the nomination contestant;
(b) the name of the registered political party for which he or she intends to be a nomination contestant;
(c) the name of the electoral district in which he or she intends to be a nomination contestant;
(d) the name and address of the official representative of the nomination contestant;
(e) a statement signed by an authorized officer of the registered political party stating that the nomination contestant is accepted as a nomination contestant by that political party; and
(f) the address to which communications intended for him or her may be addressed and where his or her books, records and accounts pertaining to contributions to and expenditures by him or her are or will be maintained.
136.2(3)Following the holding of a nomination convention, a registered political party shall file with the Chief Electoral Officer a certificate of nomination convention signed by an authorized officer of the registered political party detailing the nomination convention, including the contestants who stood for nomination, the individual elected and the individuals who withdrew as contestants.
2015, c.17, s.1
OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES
1978, c.17, s.3
Registry of official representatives
137(1)The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain a registry in which shall be recorded the names and addresses of the official representatives of each registered political party, registered district association, registered independent candidate, registered leadership contestant and registered nomination contestant filed with him pursuant to this section.
137(2)Each registered political party shall, within ten days after the party becomes registered, file with the Chief Electoral Officer, a notice signed by the leader of the party setting out the name and address of its official representative, and the names and addresses of any deputy official representatives appointed up to that time pursuant to subsection (7).
137(3)Each registered district association shall, within twenty days after the association becomes registered, file with the Chief Electoral Officer a notice signed by the leader of the party associated therewith, or the official representative of such party, setting out the name and address of its official representative.
137(4)Each registered independent candidate shall, within twenty days after he becomes registered, file with the Chief Electoral Officer a notice signed by him setting out the name and address of his official representative.
137(4.1)On registering a leadership contestant in the registry under section 136.1, the Chief Electoral Officer shall enter the name of the official representative of the leadership contestant in the registry referred to in this section.
137(4.2)On registering a nomination contestant in the registry under section 136.2, the Chief Electoral Officer shall enter the name of the official representative of the nomination contestant in the registry referred to in this section.
137(5)Only one official representative shall be registered for each registered political party, registered district association, registered independent candidate, registered leadership contestant or registered nomination contestant at any one time.
137(5.1)A leadership contestant or nomination contestant may be the same person as the official representative of that contestant.
137(6)For the purposes of this Act, a political party, district association, independent candidate, leadership contestant or nomination contestant shall be deemed to have become registered when it is entered in the appropriate registry maintained by the Chief Electoral Officer.
137(7)Notwithstanding subsection (5), the official representative of a registered political party may, on the written authorization of the leader of that party, appoint at any time not more than one deputy official representative for that party for each electoral district, and file the names and addresses of such appointments with the Chief Electoral Officer.
137(8)No person shall be an official representative or deputy official representative of any registered political party, registered district association, registered independent candidate, registered leadership contestant or registered nomination contestant if
(a) he is not of the full age of nineteen years;
(b) he is not a Canadian citizen;
(c) he is not resident in the Province;
(d) he is disqualified from voting under the Elections Act; or
(e) he is a candidate or an election officer.
1978, c.17, s.3; 2015, c.17, s.1
CHIEF AND ELECTORAL DISTRICT
AGENTS
1978, c.17, s.3
Registration of agents of political parties and independent candidates
138(1)The Chief Electoral Officer shall maintain a registry in which shall be recorded the names and addresses of
(a) the chief agent and electoral district agents of each registered political party filed under this section;
(b) the official agent of each registered independent candidate filed under this section; and
(c) an official agent appointed under section 69 of the Political Process Financing Act and filed under this section.
138(2)Each registered political party shall, within ten days after the party becomes registered, file with the Chief Electoral Officer a notice signed by the leader of the party setting out the name and address of its chief agent.
138(3)The chief agent of a registered political party may be the same person as the official representative of that party if he is registered with the Chief Electoral Officer both as official representative and as chief agent of that party.
138(4)Each registered independent candidate shall, within twenty days after he becomes registered, file with the Chief Electoral Officer a notice signed by him setting out the name and address of his official agent.
138(5)The official agent of a registered independent candidate may be the same person as the official representative of that candidate if he is registered with the Chief Electoral Officer both as official representative and as official agent of that candidate.
138(6)Only one chief agent shall be registered for each registered political party at any one time and only one official agent shall be registered for any registered independent candidate at any one time.
138(7)Notwithstanding subsection (6), the chief agent of a registered political party may, on the written authorization of the leader of that party, appoint at any time not more than one electoral district agent for that party for each electoral district and file the name and address of such appointment with the Chief Electoral Officer.
138(8)An electoral district agent of a registered political party may be the same person as the official representative of a registered district association of that party if he is registered with the Chief Electoral Officer both as an official representative and as an electoral district agent.
138(9)Subsection 137(8) applies mutatis mutandis to chief agents, official agents and electoral district agents.
1978, c.17, s.3; 1994, c.39, s.6; 2006, c.6, s.53
CHANGES IN REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTIES, REGISTERED DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS, REGISTERED INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES, REGISTERED LEADERSHIP CONTESTANTS, REGISTERED NOMINATION CONTESTANTS AND OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES
2015, c.17, s.1
Variation or cancellation of registration
139(1)Subject to section 132, the Chief Electoral Officer may upon receipt of an application for variation of registration signed by the leader of a registered political party, vary the name of the party or that of any registered district association of that party in the appropriate registry in accordance with the application.
139(2)The Chief Electoral Officer shall, upon written application signed by the leader of a registered political party, cancel the registration of such party or of any registered district association associated therewith.
139(3)Where the registration of a political party is cancelled, the registration of all district associations associated with that party shall also be cancelled.
139(4)The Chief Electoral Officer shall, upon written application signed by a registered independent candidate, cancel the registration of such candidate.
139(5)The Chief Electoral Officer shall, on written application signed by a registered leadership contestant, cancel the registration of that contestant.
139(6)The Chief Electoral Officer shall, on written application signed by a registered nomination contestant, cancel the registration of that contestant.
1978, c.17, s.3; 2015, c.17, s.1
Cancelling the registration of party registered pursuant to paragraph 131(d)
140The Chief Electoral Officer shall cancel the registration of a party registered pursuant to paragraph 131(d) if such party does not present candidates in at least ten electoral districts, or whose number of candidates falls below ten before the day of polling, in any general election.
1978, c.17, s.3
Cancelling registration for failure to comply with section 148 or with sections 51 to 64 of the Political Process Financing Act
141The Chief Electoral Officer may cancel the registration of a registered political party, registered district association or registered independent candidate which fails to comply with section 148 or with any provision of sections 51 to 64 of the Political Process Financing Act.
1978, c.17, s.3; 2007, c.55, s.1
Cancelling registration of registered independent candidate if nomination papers not accepted
142The Chief Electoral Officer shall cancel the registration of a registered independent candidate whose nomination paper is not accepted or who withdraws from the election before polling day or who dies.
1978, c.17, s.3
Notice to refuse or cancel registration
143(1)Except for a cancellation pursuant to section 139 or 141, where the Chief Electoral Officer proposes to refuse to register a political party, district association or independent candidate or where he proposes to cancel any such registration, he shall give such party, district association or independent candidate notice of that proposal, along with written reasons for it and he shall provide a reasonable opportunity to be heard before he makes his final decision.
143(2)Any notice required under subsection (1) may be given by registered mail or by any other means considered suitable by the Chief Electoral Officer.
1978, c.17, s.3
Resignation
144(1)An official representative, a deputy official representative, a chief agent, an electoral district agent, or an official agent may resign by sending a written notice to that effect to the person or organization that appointed him and to the Chief Electoral Officer.
144(2)On receipt of a notice of resignation under subsection (1), the Chief Electoral Officer shall vary the appropriate registry accordingly.
1978, c.17, s.3
Notice of cancellation of registration
145The registration of an official representative, a deputy official representative, a chief agent, an official agent or an electoral district agent shall be cancelled by the Chief Electoral Official on receipt of a notice signed
(a) in the case of an official representative or chief agent of a registered political party, by the leader of the party;
(b) in the case of an official representative of a registered district association, by the leader or official representative of the registered political party associated therewith;
(c) in the case of an electoral district agent, by the leader or chief agent of the appropriate registered political party;
(d) in the case of the official representative or official agent of a registered independent candidate, by that independent candidate; and
(e) in the case of the official representative of a registered leadership contestant or registered nomination contestant, by that contestant.
1978, c.17, s.3; 2015, c.17, s.1
Replacement of official representative
146If a registered political party, registered district association, registered independent candidate, registered leadership contestant or registered nomination contestant ceases, for any reason, to have an official representative, chief agent or official agent, as the case may be, a replacement shall be appointed without delay and the name and address of the new appointment along with the name and address of the person he or she is replacing shall be filed with the Chief Electoral Officer in a written notice signed
(a) in the case of the appointment of an official representative or chief agent of a registered political party, by the leader of the party,
(b) in the case of the appointment of an official representative of a registered district association, by the leader or official representative of the party associated with the district association,
(c) in the case of the appointment of the official representative or official agent of a registered independent candidate, by that independent candidate, and
(d) in the case of the appointment of the official representative of a registered leadership contestant or registered nomination contestant, by that contestant.
1978, c.17, s.3; 2015, c.17, s.1
RE-APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION
2007, c.55, s.1
Re-application for registration
146.1(1)A political party, district association or individual whose application for registration has been refused or whose registration has been cancelled may re-apply for registration after a period of sixty days from the time the previous application was refused or cancelled.
146.1(2)The Chief Electoral Officer shall register any political party, district association or individual that applies for registration under this section and satisfies the requirements for registration under this Act.
2007, c.55, s.1
PUBLICATION OF REGISTRATIONS
1978, c.17, s.3
Publication of registered information on registration
147(1)Upon registering any political party, the Chief Electoral Officer shall cause to be published in The Royal Gazette and in the daily newspapers of the Province the information about such political party contained in the appropriate registry.
147(2)Upon registering any district association or independent candidate, the Chief Electoral Officer shall cause to be published in The Royal Gazette, and may cause to be published in any newspaper published in the Province, the information about such district association or independent candidate contained in the appropriate registry.
1978, c.17, s.3
Admendments to registries
148The registered political parties, registered district associations, registered independent candidates, registered leadership contestants and registered nomination contestants shall, without delay, furnish the Chief Electoral Officer with the information required for updating the various registries provided for under the Act and on receipt of such information the Chief Electoral Officer shall amend the appropriate registry accordingly.
1978, c.17, s.3; 2015, c.17, s.1
Publication of change to contents of registries
149The Chief Electoral Officer shall cause to be published in The Royal Gazette any change in the contents of any registry maintained by him under this Act, including any cancellation of registration.
1978, c.17, s.3
Publication of registered information re general election, by-election
150(1)The Chief Electoral Officer shall, within ten days after the issuance of writs for a general election, cause to be published in The Royal Gazette and in the daily newspapers of the Province a notice stating where the information contained in all registries maintained by him under this Act is kept and the hours during which the information may be inspected.
150(2)Where a Writ of Election is issued for a by-election, the Chief Electoral Officer shall within ten days after the issuance of the Writ, cause to be published in The Royal Gazette and in every daily newspaper having general circulation within the electoral district in which the by-election is to be held,
(a) a notice stating where the information contained in the registries maintained by him under this Act with respect to the electoral district in which the by-election is to be held is kept and the hours during which the information may be inspected;
(b) the name and address of the chief agent and official representative of each registered political party; and
(c) the name and address of any deputy official representative or electoral district agent of any registered political party for that electoral district.
1978, c.17, s.3; 1980, c.17, s.44
Examination of registries
151Upon giving reasonable notice, any person may examine any registry maintained by the Chief Electoral Officer under this Act during office hours at the office of Elections New Brunswick.
1978, c.17, s.3; 2007, c.55, s.1
INFORMING SUPERVISOR OF
POLITICAL FINANCING
Repealed: 2007, c.55, s.1
1978, c.17, s.3; 2007, c.55, s.1
Repealed
152Repealed: 2007, c.55, s.1
1978, c.17, s.3; 2007, c.55, s.1
Repealed
153Repealed: 2007, c.55, s.1
1978, c.17, s.3; 2007, c.55, s.1
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
1998, c.32, s.81
Establishment of advisory committee and composition
154(1)An advisory committee on the electoral process is established.
154(2)The advisory committee shall consist of the Chief Electoral Officer and two representatives of each registered political party that had official candidates in at least one-half of all electoral districts at the immediately preceding general election.
1998, c.32, s.81
Appointments to advisory committee
155(1)The leader of each registered political party that had official candidates in at least one-half of all electoral districts at the immediately preceding general election shall, within fifteen days after the commencement day of each session of the Legislative Assembly, designate that party’s representatives on the advisory committee by a certificate signed by the leader and filed with the Chief Electoral Officer.
155(2)No member of the Legislative Assembly, no member of the House of Commons, no officially nominated candidate in a provincial or federal election, and no official agent or campaign manager of a candidate or of a political party shall be a member of the advisory committee.
155(3)Persons appointed to the advisory committee pursuant to subsection (1) shall continue as members until fifteen days following the commencement day of the next ensuing session of the Legislative Assembly.
1998, c.32, s.81
Chair of advisory committee
156The Chief Electoral Officer shall chair the advisory committee.
1998, c.32, s.81
Compensation of members of advisory committee
157Members of the advisory committee other than the Chief Electoral Officer shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, and shall receive an attendance allowance for each meeting of the committee in accordance with the tariff of fees prescribed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.
1998, c.32, s.81; 2010, c.6, s.127
Meetings of advisory committee
158At the request of the chairperson, the advisory committee shall meet as often as is necessary for the proper exercise of its duties.
1998, c.32, s.81
Advice and opinion of advisory committee
159The advisory committee shall give its advice and opinion on any matter or question posed by the Chief Electoral Officer relating to the electoral process and to the application of this Act.
1998, c.32, s.81
Results of work of advisory committee
160The advisory committee may make the results of its work public.
1998, c.32, s.81
Consultation with advisory committee
161The Chief Electoral Officer shall consult the advisory committee periodically with regard to the application of this Act.
1998, c.32, s.81
SCHEDULE A
Repealed: 2005, c.E-3.5, s.22
1974, c.92 (Supp.), s.19; 1974, c.12 (Supp.), s.31; 1980, c.17, s.45; 1986, c.8, s.33; 1994, c.39, s.6; 1994, c.99, s.1, 2, 3, 3.1, 4, 5, 6; 1995, c.36, s.1; 1998, c.12, s.12; 2005, c.E-3.5, s.22
SCHEDULE B
Column I
Section
Column II
Category of Offence
 
  10.1..............
C
  69(a)..............
F
  69(b)..............
F
  69(c)..............
F
  69(d)..............
F
  69(e)..............
F
  69(f)..............
F
  69(g)..............
F
  69(h)..............
F
  69(i)..............
F
  69(j)..............
F
  69(k)..............
F
  81(1)..............
F
  81(2)..............
C
  86(5)..............
F
  93(7)..............
E
106(1)(a)..............
H
106(1)(b)..............
H
106(1)(c)..............
H
106(1)(d)..............
H
106(1)(e)..............
H
106(1)(f)..............
H
106(1)(g)..............
H
106(1)(h)..............
H
106(1)(i)..............
H
106(1)(j)..............
H
106(1)(k)..............
H
107(a)..............
H
107(b)..............
H
107(c)..............
H
107(d)..............
H
108..............
I
109(a)..............
F
109(b)..............
F
109(c)..............
F
109(d)..............
F
109(e)..............
F
109(f)..............
F
110..............
F
111(1)..............
F
112.1..............
F
112.2..............
E
114..............
F
116(1)..............
E
117(1)..............
C
117(1.1)..............
C
117(2)..............
C
117(3)..............
C
117(4)..............
F
117(5)..............
C
126..............
F
127(1)..............
E
127(2)..............
E
1990, c.61, s.38; 1997, c.53, s.21; 1998, c.32, s.82; 2006, c.6, s.54; 2010, c.6, s.128
SCHEDULE C
1998, c.32, s.83
Provincial departments or agencies:
1998, c.32, s.83
1)Department of Justice and Public Safety, for name, address, sex, date of birth and other related information;
2)Repealed: 2010, c.6, s.129
3)Department of Environment and Local Government, for address data and other related information; and
4)Service New Brunswick, for name, address, sex, date of birth, date of death, date of residency, citizenship and other related information.
1998, c.32, s.83; 1998, c.41, s.40; 2000, c.26, s.96; 2006, c.16, s.55; 2006-68; 2010, c.6, s.129; 2012, c.39, s.61; 2016, c.37, s.52; 2019, c.2, s.40; 2020, c.25, s.40
N.B. This Act is consolidated to June 16, 2023.