Slide Deck 9: The Voting Process

Did you know that, a long time ago, elections were held in public Did you know that, a long time ago, elections were held in public? Voters would have to hold up their hand to express their choice. What problems do you think this could cause?

Why do you think it is called a secret ballot?

Who organizes provincial elections? Elections Newfoundland & Labrador is responsible for organizing provincial elections in Newfoundland and Labrador. Their job is to make sure that provincial elections are fair, protected and honest. To do this, Elections Newfoundland and Labrador must be non-partisan (independent, not associated with a political party).

Who is qualified to vote in provincial elections?

Who is eligible to vote? To be eligible to vote in an NL provincial election, you must be: A Canadian citizen; At least 18 years of age; A resident of the province the day before polling day; A resident of the district and polling division on polling day.

What is the voters list? Elections NL manages the voters list, which lists all electors and includes full names, addresses and telephone numbers. An elector is not required to produce identification prior to voting if their name is on the voters list. If your name is on the list, you will be issued a ballot to vote.

Voter ID You can still cast a ballot even if you are not on the voters list. In this case, you will have to take an oath and present identification that shows your name, current address and signature (e.g., drivers license)

VIC Card Voter Information Cards are distributed to registered voters in the province to inform them when and where to vote.

Where do I vote? Each electoral district is divided into smaller polling divisions, which are defined geographic areas. Eligible voters residing within each polling division vote at the polling station designated for their area. Electors can find their polling station(s) on the Elections NL website, in local newspapers or on their VIC card.

How do I vote in a provincial election? On election day: You can vote in person on election day (May 16) from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. at your designated polling station. At an advance poll: You can vote before election day. Advance polls (May 9) are open from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M on one day within the seven-day period before polling day. By mail-in ballot: Voting by special ballot is available if you are unable to vote during regular or advance polls. You can only request a special ballot if you are: physically incapacitated, away from your electoral district, a student attending a university or college outside of the province or, serving as an inmate.

Why is it important to have options for when and how to vote?

What is the process for voting? Once you confirm your eligibility, you are given a ballot that has the deputy returning officer’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 deputy returning officer 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 the political party they belong to. As long as you clearly mark the ballot for one candidate, your ballot will be valid.

Valid Ballots An valid ballot clearly indicates the choice for one candidate.

Rejected Ballots A rejected ballot is a ballot that cannot be counted because the voter’s intention cannot be interpreted. A ballot will be rejected if: it is not marked for any candidate; it is marked for more than one candidate; or it is marked in a way that could identify the voter.

FINAL THOUGHTS Which local candidate do you think will make the best Member of the House of Assembly and why? Which information, events or activities related to the campaign helped shaped your views the most? How do you vote in a provincial election?