How To: Vote in New Brunswick Provincial Elections

by Apathy is Boring — August 16, 2010

Fellow New Brunswickers - duty is calling. There's a provincial election on September 27th. This is your chance to make your voice heard. Is it your first time? Don't be nervous. Just follow this step-by-step guide and cast your ballot like a pro.

Can I vote in the 2010 New Brunswick provincial election?
What if I’m a student from another province?
What if I’m not on the voters list?
What ID do I need to bring with me?
Where is my polling station? When is it open?
What if I can't make it to a polling station on election day?
What if I need additional help getting to a polling station voting?

Can I vote in the 2010 New Brunswick provincial election?

In order to vote in a New Brunswick provincial election, you must:

be a Canadian citizen;
be 18 years of age or more on election day (September 27);
be a resident of New Brunswick for at least 40 days before election day;
be on the official voters list.

What if I’m a student from another province?

You can only vote in the provincial election if New Brunswick is your place of residence (and has been for 40 days before the election).

What makes New Brunswick your place of residence? Basically, it means your home address is in New Brunswick, as opposed to in another province. So if you file your taxes in New Brunswick, or you have health care card or student loan from the province, you're probably a resident.

What if I’m not on the voters list?

If you’ve moved recently or are eligible to vote for the first time, you may not be listed on the voters list. But don’t worry - getting on the list is quick and easy. There are two ways to get your name added:

Fill out an application in advance. They’re available at your local Returning Office - you can look up the address here. Between elections, you can also fill out an application at your Service New Brunswick office.
Register when you go to vote. You will need fill out an application form and provide both ID and proof of your address when you arrive at the polls. If you don’t have ID, a voter who is already on the list can also vouch for you.

What ID do I need to bring with me?

If you received a Voter Information Card in the mail and the name and address on it is correct, your name is on the voters list and you don’t need ID to vote. You don’t actually need to bring the card to the polling station either, but you’ll be able to vote more quickly if you do.

If you aren’t on the voters list, you’ll need to bring ID so that your name can be added. Bring one or more documents that prove your name, current address, and signature. A driver’s license does all of this fine. You could also bring a Medicare card or passport (proof of name and signature) along with an official piece of mail from your current address, such as a utility bill.

Where is my polling station? When is it open?

You should receive a card by mail that gives you the address of your advance polling station as well as the address of your polling station for Election Day. You can also find the address of your polling station here.

Polling stations are open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Election Day (Monday, September 27).

If you work, your employer is obligated by law to make sure that you have three consecutive hours off while the polls are open (between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm). Employees who are scheduled to work must also be paid for the time they take to vote. Just remember that these rules don’t apply if the polling station is open for three hours before or after your shift. If you start work at 1:00 pm or finish by 5:00 pm, your employer doesn’t have to give you any extra time off (or pay you for it).

What if I can't make it to a polling station on election day?

There are advance polling days roughly a week before the election. Voting at an advance poll is just like voting at on election day - you just get to cast your ballot earlier.

The first advance polling day is on Saturday, September 18, and the second is on Monday, September 20. Polling stations will be open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on both days.

If you can’t make it out on either election day or the advance polling days, a special ballot allows you to vote by mail. You can get a special ballot from any electoral returning office in the province, regardless of whether it’s in your home riding. Click here to find out where your nearest returning office is located.

What if I need additional help getting to a polling station voting?

If you can’t make it to a returning office because of accessibility issues or illness, you can call the office and have a ballot brought to your home. Just make sure to call in advance so they have enough time to meet your needs. You can find out more about accessibility services here.

If you need any more information about the election or how to vote, check out the Elections New Brunswick website.