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YOUR VOICE /YOUR FUTURE. David Owens Assistant Chief Electoral Officer November 15, 2012 NB Multicultural Council Annual Provincial Conference. Overview of Presentation. Roles & Responsibilities of Elections NB Structure of the NB electoral system Elector qualifications
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YOUR VOICE /YOUR FUTURE David Owens Assistant Chief Electoral Officer November 15, 2012 NB Multicultural Council Annual Provincial Conference
Overview of Presentation • Roles & Responsibilities of Elections NB • Structure of the NB electoral system • Elector qualifications • How to get on/update voters list • How to vote • How to become a candidate • How to work at an election • Elector outreach programs
Did you know… • Who is the only New Brunswicker that meets all voting requirements but is not allowed to vote?
Did you know… • Who is the only New Brunswicker that meets all voting requirements but is not allowed to vote? • Michael Quinn, Chief Electoral Officer of NB
Roles & Responsibilities • 16 full-time staff To administer: • Provincial Elections and By-Elections; • Municipal Elections and By-Elections; • District Education Council and Regional Health Authority Elections; and • Referendums/Plebiscites.
Roles & Responsibilities Chief Electoral Officer is also Supervisor of Political Financing. He oversees: • Public financing of the political process • Contribution limits • Election spending limits for parties & candidates • Provides public disclosure of revenues and expenditures • Third-Party Advertising
Provincial Electoral System • 55 Electoral Districts (Ridings) • Boundary redistribution underway reducing to 49 Electoral Districts • 552,183 registered electors * • People move, some ridings increase/decrease • Divided into polling divisions which report to polling stations * As of August 2012
Municipal Electoral System • Mayors & Councillors • 101 Municipalities & 4 Rural Communities • Many have wards • School District councillors • 4 Anglophone districts (41 sub-districts) • 3 Francophone districts (27 sub-districts) • Health Region members • Region A, 8 sub-regions • Region B, 8 sub regions
Qualifications To Vote In a Provincial Election • A Canadian citizen • 18 on or before polling day • Will have been a resident in the province for at least 40 days before Election Day • Reside in the electoral district on Election Day
Qualifications To Vote In A Municipal, District Education Council or Regional Health Authority Election • A Canadian citizen • 18 on or before polling day • Will have been a resident in the province for at least 40 days before Election Day • Live in the municipality, school district or health subregion on Election Day
How to get on the Voter’s List • Meet qualifications to vote • Present one or more pieces of ID that between them show your name, current address and signature. • NB drivers license contains all three • Other options include utility bills, student ID’s, passports, other documentation • Friend vouching
How to update your voter information • Reminder cards sent to every household in New Brunswick • Notice to Vote cards sent to each elector 2 weeks prior to Election Day • 1-888-858-VOTE; or • Go to your polling station
Where to Vote • Returning offices open approximately 1 month prior to Election Day • Special Ballot • Advance Polls • Ordinary Polls
How to Vote • A voter marks an X or fills in the circle next to the candidate they wish to vote for • Ballots styles will vary between provincial election and Municipal, DEC, RHA elections
Candidate Qualifications • Be eligible to vote • Depending on the type of election, live in the: • Electoral District, or • Municipality, School District, or Health Region where you intend to run. • Complete nomination paper with 25/10 signatures from eligible voters
How to work at an election • Be eligible to vote * • Apply on-line www.electionsnb.ca; or • Contact your returning office early in the election • During provincial elections, government and opposition parties provide nominees. They must be equal in a polling station
Outreach Programs & Citizen Engagement • Youth Outreach Strategy • University student unions visit 2007 • Pilot project-Satellite Returning Offices on campuses • Youth Outreach Coordinator • Employment of High School Students • Electors with disabilities • Seniors, Military, Inmates
Campus Satellite Returning Offices in 2010 • 4 full-service satellite returning offices opened on university and college campuses. • Registration desks set up to add electors • 2,613 registered • Opened flexible hours • 2,665 ballots cast
Employment of High School Students • 219 high school students were hired to work in the May 2012 quadrennial elections • 201 high school students were hired to work in the 2010 provincial general election
Accommodation & Accessibility • Audio Vote Technology at Returning Offices • Sign language videos • Sign language interpreters • Communication series developed for disability network
Other outreach groups • Seniors • ‘Additional Polls’ at treatment centres • In-House Voting • Military • Targeted messaging • Overseas voting coordination • Inmates • Targeted messaging • Special Ballot voting