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Elections Nova Scotia

Pictou West By-election 2024

A writ of election was issued on Sunday, April 21, 2024 for a by-election in the electoral district of Pictou West. Election day will be Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

Notice of Election

A by-election will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, to elect a member to serve in the House of Assembly for the electoral district of Pictou West. The following days are pursuant to the Elections Act.

Early Voting Options
Prior to election day, eligible voters can vote early at the returning office or at the advance poll location. Voters can also apply to vote by write-in ballot. Early voting before the close of candidate nominations will be done using the write-in ballot format. Early voting after the close of nominations will be done by e-Balloting.

Returning Office
49 Pine Tree Road, Pictou, BOK 1H0
Open Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm
Closed on Sundays
Open for extended hours on Thursday, May16 and Friday, May 17, 2024 from 9 am to 8 pm
Open on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 from 8 am to 8 pm
Returning Office contact number: 1-888-575-8901

Advance poll
Saturday, May 11 – Saturday, May 18, 2024
Open from 9 am to 6 pm
Closed on Sundays
Open for extended hours on Thursday, May 16 and Friday May 17, 2024 from 9 am to 8 pm

Election Day Voting
Election day is Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Voting will be open from 8 am to 8 pm on election day.
On election day, eligible voters in Pictou West must vote at their assigned voting location or at the Returning Office.

If you live in Pictou West, click here to find your election day voting location.

Registered voters in Pictou West will receive a personalized voter information card (VIC) with information on where and when they can vote.

Candidate Nominations Close - Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 2pm.

Who Can Vote in the Pictou West By-election

To be eligible to vote in the Pictou West by-election, you must be:

  • 18 years of age or older on Tuesday, May 21, 2024
  • A Canadian citizen
  • Live in Nova Scotia since October 21, 2023 (six months prior to the date the by-election was called)
  • Reside in the electoral district of Pictou West

Where to Vote in the Pictou West By-election

If you live in Pictou West, click here and enter your address to find your voting location options.

Get Registered for the Pictou West By-election

Elections Nova Scotia maintains a register of anyone eligible to vote in a Nova Scotia provincial general election or by-election. The Register is updated regularly and there are several ways to be added to the list. Though being registered before arriving at a voting location is not required, those who are registered when the by-election is called will be sent a personalized Voter Information Card (VIC) with information on where and when to vote. Click here for more information on how to register to vote.

First Time Voters – Get Registered!

Elections Nova Scotia encourages first time voters in the electoral district of Pictou West to register to vote. Voters can register any time on-line to ensure they are on the Nova Scotia Registry of Electors.

New voters include young adults 18 years of age or older, new Canadian citizens, or voters who have moved to Nova Scotia and have not yet voted in a provincial election.

Click here for more information on how to register to vote.

Write-in Ballot

Eligible voters in Pictou West can apply to vote remotely using a write-in ballot. Write-in ballot voting can be facilitated by mail, or a write-in ballot team can visit a voter’s home. Voters can apply for a write-in ballot in person, on-line, by mail, or have a trusted friend or family member act as the voter’s agent to help them apply. Once a voter has applied to vote by write-in ballot, that is the method of voting they must use. Write-in ballots are conducted every day except Sundays during the hours the returning office is open.

The application deadline for a write-in ballot on-line or by mail is Saturday, May 11, 2024 by 6 pm.

The application deadline for a write-in ballot in-person or by agent is Tuesday, May 21, 2024 by 3 pm.

All completed write-in ballots must be returned by 8 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, to be counted.

You can call the returning office at 1-888-575-8901 if you have questions about the write-in ballot application process.

Before You Apply On-line for a Write-in Ballot for the Pictou West By-election

Before deciding if using the online write-in ballot application is right for you, there are a few things you should know. To use this online application, you must:

  • Be an eligible voter in Pictou West - a Canadian citizen, 18 years or over, reside in Pictou West, and have lived in Nova Scotia since October 21, 2024
  • Have an email account and telephone number
  • Be able to add your signature to the online application using a touch-screen computer or if you do not have a touch-screen computer, upload an image file of your signature
  • Be able to upload an image file of your identification document(s). Click here to see a list of applicable forms of identification. (Please note, the following image file formats are acceptable: .jpg, .jpeg, .pjpeg, .bmp, .tiff, .tif, .png, .gif)

The information collected using the online write-in ballot application tool is secure and will only be used by Elections Nova Scotia to confirm your eligibility to receive a write-in ballot kit in the mail.

Once you have completed your online application, Elections Nova Scotia will review your submitted application to confirm that all required information and documentation has been provided. Once your application has been reviewed you will be informed by email.

Write-in Ballot On-line Application

Click here to submit your online application for a Write-in Ballot Kit .

Election Works Needed

It takes a lot of people and effort to make a by-election run smoothly. Elections Nova Scotia needs dedicated workers to facilitate voting during the current by-election in the electoral district of Pictou West. People 18 years and older who would like to work the Pictou West by-election are asked to please contact the returning office at 1-888-575-8901. There are also some jobs available for people ages 16 to 18.

Who is Running in the Pictou West By-election?

Nominated Candidates
Candidates must complete official nominations forms after the writ of election is issued to have their name added to the ballot in an electoral event. The deadline for candidate nominations for the Pictou West by-election is Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 2 pm.

Elections Nova Scotia publishes the names of nominated candidates and the names of the official agent for their campaign.

(Candidate and official agent names will be added as nominations are received)

The following candidate(s) are nominated for the Pictou West by-election:

Candidate Name Registered Political Party Official Agent Name
Clare Brett Green Party of Nova Scotia (Green Party) William Matheson
Melinda MacKenzie Nova Scotia New Democratic Party (NDP) Carol Grimmitt
Marco MacLeod Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia (PC) Ryan Sharpe
Mary Wooldridge-Elliott Nova Scotia Liberal Party (Liberal) Alta Munroe

Pictou West By-election Media Releases

The following media releases have been issued for the Pictou West by-election.

E-Balloting for Early Votes in the Pictou West By-election

E-Balloting will be used for early voting in the Pictou West by-election following the close of candidate nominations at 2 pm on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Before the close of candidate nominations, the write-in ballot format will be used for early voting at the returning office.

The e-Balloting system is safe and allows voters to select the candidate of their choice on a tablet behind the voting screen. Once a vote is cast, the e-Ballot system produces a paper voting receipt for the voter to place in the ballot box.

E-Balloting allows fast and secure counting of early votes when the polls close on election night. This means the results of the Pictou West by-election will be returned quickly and efficiently.

Traditional paper ballots will be used for voting on election day (Tuesday, May 21, 2024). E-Balloting is only being offered during early voting prior to election day in Pictou West.

The Government of Nova Scotia made amendments to the Elections Act in 2021 to provide authority for e-Balloting. Elections Nova Scotia has developed the secure e-Balloting system and is confident in the integrity of this innovative voting method.

Is Internet Voting Available in the Pictou West By-election?

E-Balloting is not internet voting. Both are electronic forms of voting, but e-Balloting takes place at a voting location on a secure tablet while internet voting facilitates remote voting using the internet.

Internet voting is not available during the Pictou West by-election.

Know Your Electoral District

A by-election is a good time to confirm information about your electoral district. Elections Nova Scotia provides a variety of electoral district information on this website. Residents of the Pictou West are encouraged to use the following links to connect with information and maps of their district.

Click here to view a detailed electoral profile, which include census data and past voting information. Select the electoral district of Pictou West (ED 43).

Click here to view the electoral district maps and select the map for Pictou West (ED 43).

Candidate and Party Spending Limits for the Pictou West By-election?

The following amounts are determined according to the Elections Act (updated to include CPI adjustments):
Initial Number of Electors: 11,924 (as of April 21, 2024)
Candidate Spending Limit*: $83,059.29
Candidate Reimbursement Limit: $23,159.10
Registered Party Spending Limit: $7,773.25
Third Party Spending Limit: $2,716.40
*Candidate spending limit may be adjusted based on the number of electors on the Final List of Electors. The final list will be completed after election day.

Election Signage and Third-Party Advertising

During the Pictou West by-election, the Elections Act requires an authorization statement on all signs and advertising, including print, broadcast and online. The statement must be legible and state, “Authorized by the Official Agent for (name of candidate, registered party, individual, organization).”

Areas along highways, including some within municipalities, are managed by the provincial Department of Public Works. People who have questions about signs along highways may call a toll-free number 1-844-696-7737 or email tir-occ@novascotia.ca.

During the Pictou West by-election, third party advertising is also regulated. Third party advertising rules require that the third party identifies itself and it has authorized the advertising. There are limits to how much money can be spent by third parties during the election. According to the Elections Act, a third party is an individual or group that is not a candidate, registered political party, or registered electoral district association. A third-party election advertisement is a message that promotes or opposes a registered political party, the election of a certain candidate, or a candidate’s position on an issue within the election period.

Click here for more information about election advertising.

Campaign Access to Multi-unit Buildings

Elections Nova Scotia would like to remind landlords and administrators of multi-unit buildings and condominiums in the electoral district of Pictou West that enumerators and candidates must be given access during a by-election.

It is an offence under the Elections Act to impede a candidate when lawfully campaigning or an enumerator when gathering information for the Register of Electors during a by-election.

Elections Nova Scotia has a policy on campaign access to multi-unit buildings to help provide clarity and understanding for landlords, tenants, and candidates.

Click here to view the Campaign Access to Multi-unit Buildings Policy.

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