Advance Poll – electors who might be away on Election Day, or would prefer to vote earlier, can vote at the advance poll. In provincial elections advance voting is held on the Monday and Saturday just before the Election Day.
Additional Polls – these polls, most often used at nursing homes and special care homes, allow people who choose not to vote at their designated polling location, the chance to cast their vote.
Agent – sometimes called a scrutineer, this person represents a candidate at the polling station and observes the voting and the counting of ballots.
By-Election – an election held to fill a vacancy in a provincial electoral district, municipality or rural community.
Candidate – a person who is running to be elected in an electoral district. In provincial elections candidates can be independent or represent a recognized political party.
Chief Electoral Officer – this is the head person at Elections New Brunswick. The Chief Electoral Officer has the responsibility for ensuring all elections are fair and impartial and are conducted in accordance with the various acts that regulate elections.
Contributions – persons ordinarily resident in New Brunswick and eligible corporations, partnerships and trade unions may donate (contribute) a maximum of $6,000 annually to a recognized party and all candidates and electoral district associations of that recognized party.
Elector – someone who is eligible to vote.
Electoral District – New Brunswick is divided into 49 electoral districts.
List of Electors – also called the voters list. This is a list of all those people who are qualified to vote and have registered to vote. The List is sorted by polling division.
MLA – Member of the Legislative Assembly. A person elected in his or her electoral district to a seat in the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly.
Nomination Paper – a document that must be filed with the Returning Officer before a person can run as a candidate in an election. In a scheduled general election, Nomination Day is a Tuesday at 2 p.m., the twentieth day before the date of the election.
Official Addition – this count of the ballots is performed by the Returning Officer in the presence of the Election Clerk, and the candidates or their agents. After this count, the Returning Officer declares which candidate is elected.
Order in Council – the passing of this order starts the election process.
Ordinary Residence – this is where you live. This address will determine the polling station where you are eligible to vote. Also known as your Civic Address.
Plebiscite – a vote on a specific issue or question.
Polling Division – Electoral districts/regions are subdivided into polling divisions. Each polling division usually includes 250-450 electors.
Polling Station – these are the sites where the ballot boxes/tabulation machines are set up so you can cast your vote.
Premier – the leader of the recognized political party that wins the most seats in a general election.
Reimbursement – candidates who receive a minimum of 15 per cent of the vote are eligible for partial reimbursement of their election expenses.
Referendum- the referral of an issue of public importance from the Legislative Assembly to the general electorate for a direct vote.
-a province-wide vote held on a question proposed by the government and approved by the Legislative Assembly, which seeks public input on a policy initiative or direction.
Returning Officer – For provincial elections Cabinet appoints one Returning Officer for each of the 49 electoral districts in New Brunswick. The Returning Officer is responsible for the conduct of elections in their electoral district. Under urgent circumstances, the Chief Electoral Officer can also appoint Returning Officers.
Returning Office – Electors who wish to vote before advance voting day or Election Day have the option to cast their ballot at the retuning office in any one of the 49 electoral districts during the entire duration of the election. Returning Offices are open six days a week up to and including Election Day.
Special Ballots – Special ballots offer a means for electors to cast a ballot if they are unable to vote during advance polls or on Election Day. Special Voting Officers can bring a special ballot to electors who are house bound due to illness or incapacity. A qualified voter from one electoral region can also use a Special Ballot to vote from elsewhere in the province for a candidate in the place they normally live.
Spoiled Ballot – a ballot must be marked in a certain way to count in New Brunswick . Ballots that have an X, check mark, or circle beside more than one candidate, have no mark beside any candidate, or are not clear as to which candidate has been chosen, or are defaced in any other way are considered spoiled and are not counted.
Voter – refers to an elector who has voted.
Voter Information Card – the card sent to each elector on the List of Electors explaining where to vote and giving information on voting opportunities.
Writ – a writ is a written command in the name of the government. When referring to elections, the writ means the command to hold an election. The date of the writ is the date the election was called.
Write-in Ballot – this blank ballot allows you to cast your vote if you aren’t able to vote in person at the Special Poll, Advance Poll, or on election day because you are ill, infirm, away, or for some other reason. A Write-in Ballot can be completed in the returning office, mailed in or returned in person or by your agent. You must apply to vote by Write-in Ballot and, once you have done so, you must complete your vote using this ballot.