Alberta bound but want to vote? Here's how.
MO))) wanted to know how our readers from other time zones were going to cast their ballots on September 22nd. If you are not going to be here on election day because your job is waiting for you in Alberta or some other prosperous province, or if you are a student and will be nursing your frosh-week hangover in another part of the province or country, New Brunswick's Chief Electoral Officer has some advice for you if you want to do your civic duty.
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Michael Quinn, Chief Electoral Officer[/caption]
Quinn said that people who work out of the province, but maintain a home in Miramichi can request a special ballot from the returning office. "A special ballot will be mailed to them, and it will be the responsibility of the voter to fill out the ballot and get it back to the returning office by 8pm on election day," said Quinn.
Quinn recommended that people who know that they are not going to be home for the election, act as soon as possible to contact the returning office. The ballot will be couriered to the voter, but it is their responsibility and expense to get it back to the returning office.
Voters can cast their ballots at any time, 6 days a week, at any of these returning offices for the three Miramichi ridings:
Miramichi Bay-Neguac
Returning Officer: Mr. Raymond Gallant
Address: 664 rue Principale St, Néguac
Telephone: 1-506-776-3956
Fax: 1-888-401-6014
Toll Free: 1-888-401-6013
Email: ro.dist09@gnb.ca
Miramichi
Returning Officer: Mr. Cyril Donahue
Address: 150 rue Pleasant St, Miramichi
Telephone: 1-506-627-4159
Fax: 1-888-401-6016
Toll Free: 1-888-401-6015
Email: ro.dist10@gnb.ca
Southwest Miramichi - Bay du Vin
Returning Officer: Ms. Naomi Stewart
Address: 4 rue Miramichi St, Doaktown
Telephone: 1-506-365-2036
Fax: 1-888-326-9516
Toll Free: 1-888-326-9515
Email: ro.dist11@gnb.ca
Quinn said that people who have residences in two different provinces, must vote where they are ordinarily a resident. "Owning a property itself does not give you the right to vote. A person is only a resident in one place, even if they are temporarily away for the purposes of working. They must vote in the province that is their ordinary residence."
"The main thing is to contact the returning office and have a ballot sent to you."
What About Advance Polls
Anyone who is entitled to vote can vote at any one of the returning offices in the province and cast a ballot for a candidate in the riding where they are normally a resident. Quinn gave an example: "If you are from Bathurst, but you live in Fredericton, you can go into the Fredericton returning office and get a ballot for the contest in Bathurst and vote at the Fredericton office."
"If your name is on the voters list, you can walk in and vote after signing an application stating that you are that person," said Quinn.
Miramichi has many new faces because of the people who have moved here to work at the payroll centre. Quinn was asked what was required of them if they want to vote. "The rule is that in order to vote in New Brunswick, you would have had to be an ordinary resident somewhere in the province for at least 40 days before the election," explained Quinn. The voter would have to make a declaration that New Brunswick is now their ordinary residence and give their civic address, he said.
For people who have changed address in the province since the last election, may not know how or where they are going to vote. Quinn said that on the week of September 8th, all voters will be getting in the mail a voter information card that will explain all the details, including the location of the polls, the advance polls and the returning office.
If the address on the card the voter receives is incorrect, they can call 1-888-858-4683 to have it changed, or have the information changed at the regular or advanced poll. People can also call the number above to see if their information is correct in advance.
"If you moved and had the address changed on your drivers license, chances are elections New Brunswick already has the correct info," Quinn said.
What if you are Student?
"Students have the opportunity to vote at the ordinary residence, or in the riding where they are going to school." Quinn said that in the last week of the election the province will be setting up voting opportunities on 7 university campuses and 6 community college campuses around the province. "At those opportunities they will be able to register there even if they are a first time voter."
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