Frequently Asked Questions
When and Where to Vote
Q. How can I vote if I live in a home for the elderly or in a chronic care facility? (These are electors who reside permanently in the institution. These electors do not have another place of ordinary residence.)
A. Contact the Returning Office to determine if your facility is going to have an additional poll come to the building on or before Election Day and go from bed to bed.
If not, alternate arrangements may be made by the Returning Office to provide Special Ballots either on a scheduled basis during the election for the facility, or on an individual basis by appointment.
Q. I will be away from my home/I am leaving for a trip… How can I vote?
A. You may vote at the Returning Office if not leaving before the date when Special Ballots may begin to be issued. If not, arrangements may be made by the Returning Office to provide a mail-in Special Ballot once they become available.
Q. If I'm working on polling day do I get time off to vote?
How much time do I have for voting on Election Day?
A. All employees must have three consecutive hours off work while the polls are open (between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on election day). If your work day starts after 10:00 a.m. but before 1:00 p.m., or ends after 5:00 p.m. but before 8:00 p.m., your employer only has to give you enough time off to give you three clear hours while the polls are open. Employees scheduled to work must be paid for the time off for voting.
Q. If I'm working outside my home region during the election how can I vote?
A. If you are in another part of New Brunswick it’s easy: just go to the Returning office for the region you’re working in or call Elections NB to find the nearest office. Tell them you want to vote for your home region. They’ll make sure you’re on the List of Electors (you can be added first if necessary) and you can get a special ballot and vote much as you would at an ordinary poll.
Returning Offices are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm on weekdays. You can vote anytime after special ballots are available until polling day.
If you’re working (or studying or traveling) out-of-province, contact the Returning Office for your home region. You will need to fax them an Application for a Special Ballot Paper and they will courier you a ballot, 2 envelopes in which you must return it, an instruction sheet and a list of candidates for your region. You must get the ballot back to the Returning Office by election day at 8:00 pm.
Q. When can I vote?
What are the hours of voting?
A. Advance Polls – 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, 9 days prior to the election, and may be held Monday, 7 days prior to the election. Note that in smaller by-elections, only the Saturday advance poll may be opened.
Election Day – Monday, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Or if you are unable to vote by these methods, you may vote by Special Ballot by mail, or by contacting the Returning Office.
Or, you may visit a Returning Office or Satellite Office after Special Ballots are available and vote there between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday.
Q. When will I be able to receive a special ballot?
A. In the general elections, Special Ballots will be available 21 days prior to the election.
In a by-election, Special Ballots will be available 17 days prior to the election.
Q. Where do I vote?
A. If you received a Voter Information Card in the mail at your current address, and the name and address information on it is correct, you may vote at one of the locations shown on the back of the card.
You may also search for this information on our website.
Q. How can I vote if I am temporarily in the hospital?
A. Arrangements may be made by the Returning Office to provide Special Ballots with a scheduled individual appointment. Contact the Returning Office as soon as possible to allow the officials to schedule your appointment.
Q. How do I vote if I am overseas with the Canadian Forces?
A. Members of the Canadian Forces have special voting rules when voting in a federal election. In NB, there are no special provisions, and soldiers who are unable to vote at the ordinary or advance polls may use a Special Ballot to cast their vote.
Q. When are the advance polling days?
A. The first advance polling day is 9 days prior to the election. The second advance polling day may be Monday, 7 days prior to the election. Note that in smaller by-elections, only the Saturday advance poll may be opened.
Q. When is the next set of elections?
A. Municipal, District Education Council, and Regional Health Authority elections are held every 4 years, on the second Monday in May.
By-Election dates are set by the Municipal Electoral Officer, normally twice a year in the fall and spring, on a Monday.