The people of Newfoundland and Labrador — not entirely unexpectedly — are headed back to the polls this winter to elect the province's 50th House of Assembly.
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Polling day has been set for Feb. 13 — a rare Saturday election — a move Liberal Party Leader Andrew Furey said should allow voters more time to vote and spread out at the polling stations.
That said, Elections Newfoundland and Labrador has options for people to vote by mail-in ballot, at one of 61 district returning offices, or on advance polling day, set for Saturday, Feb. 6.
Pandemic democracy
Elections NL is acting in accordance with provincial public health measures, so casting your ballot in person on or before Feb. 13 shouldn't be much different than visiting a grocery or hardware store.
Masks are required, hand sanitizer will be readily available and social distancing at the polls will be encouraged.
Those who can't or choose not to visit a polling station on Feb. 6 or Feb. 13, Special Ballot voting is available as a mail-in option.
Special ballot voting
Are you a rotational worker who will be out of the province on election day? Maybe you're immunocompromised and can't take a risk? Or perhaps, you're just nervous being in a crowded place at this time.
Any eligible elector can cast their ballot through the mail via special ballot. Simply complete an application, send it in and Elections NL will send you back a special ballot voting kit, along with instructions.
Who's running?
This year's election sees 127 candidates vying for a seat in the House of Assembly.
Both the Liberals and the Progressive Conservatives have secured candidates in all 40 districts. The NDP, meanwhile, which offered up just 14 candidates in the 2019 election, has 33 this time around. The NL Alliance, sans leader Graydon Pelley who withdrew for medical reasons, has six candidates. This election will also see eight independent candidates.
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