PowerPoint 7: The Voting Process

Opening Discussion Have you ever voted for something before? How was the winner decided? Did you think the process was fair? Why or why not? 2

Who is responsible for running provincial elections in Nova Scotia? Elections Nova Scotia is the independent, non-partisan agency responsible for the administration of the Elections Act and conduct of provincial general elections, by‑elections and liquor plebiscites. www.electionsnovascotia.ca 3

When is the provincial election? Nova Scotia is the only province in Canada that does not have fixed-date election legislation. It is required that the provincial government hold a general election at least every five years. The 40th Nova Scotia provincial election will take place on May 30th, 2017.

Who is eligible to vote? You are eligible to vote in a Nova Scotia provincial election if: You are a Canadian citizen; You are 18 years of age or older on election day; You have lived in Nova Scotia for the six months or more before the day the election is called.

Voter identification Before eligible electors can vote, they must register by having their name and address added to the list of electors (also known as the voters list). This process involves showing identification to prove who you are and where you reside and filling out a form. You can register in advance or you can add yourself to the list of electors at the polling station on election day.

Where do I vote? Each electoral district is divided into defined geographic areas called polling divisions. Voters living in each voting area must vote at a specific polling station. You can find out where to vote by going to the Elections Nova Scotia website, or on the Voter Information Cards sent to registered voters.

How does the voting process work? When you arrive at your polling station, a poll official greets you and directs you to the right table. Once you confirm your eligibility, you are given a ballot that has the poll official’s initials on the back. Go behind a voting screen to mark your ballot. Choose only one candidate on the ballot. Hand your folded ballot back to the poll official to check for the initials. Place your folded ballot in the ballot box.

How do I mark my ballot? Voting is done by secret ballot. No one except the voter knows the choice that was made. A ballot lists the names of the candidates running in your electoral district and their party affiliation (where applicable). The voter must clearly mark the ballot for one candidate for it to be accepted (e.g., checkmark, X, shading in).

Rejected and Cancelled Ballots A rejected ballot is a ballot that cannot be counted because it was not properly marked. This can include marking the ballot for more than one candidate (even if different symbols are used), ranking the candidates, defacing the ballot, leaving the ballot blank or identifying who the voter is. A spoiled ballot is one that has been kept separate and never placed in the ballot box because it was mistakenly marked or torn and exchanged for a new ballot..

A Dozen Ways to Vote Voters in Nova Scotia may choose to vote in one of twelve ways. This includes advance polls, where electors who are away, busy or unable to vote on election day have the option of voting early. Advance polls are held for two days in each electoral district.

Making Your Decision When preparing to vote, you can consider reasons to support a candidate for MLA, a political party or leader, a specific policy idea or a whole party platform. Voting requires that you do your research and devote the necessary time. You will know you are ready to vote when you feel confident in your ability to make a choice.

Final Thoughts Are you ready to vote? Why or why not? What else do you want to know or research before making your decision? How can you encourage eligible voters who you know to cast their ballot?