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

2010 Election Results Elected / Élu(e)s Total L13 PC42 NDP/NPD0 PVNBGP0 PANB/AGNB0 IND0 Total55

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 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 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 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

QUESTIONS?