FREDERICTON (GNB) – With portions of Zone 4 (Edmundston region) currently in lockdown, as directed by An Act Respecting Municipal General Elections in 2021, elections have been suspended in the impacted area of northwestern New Brunswick.
“This means that all elections, including those for municipal council, district education council and regional health authority boards in the designated area of Zone 4 that fall under the order, are temporarily suspended until such time as the lockdown is lifted,” said Municipal Elector Officer Kim Poffenroth.
Municipalities where elections are suspended include Edmundston, Haut-Madawaska, Lac Baker, Rivière-Verte, Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska and Saint Léonard. The lockdown also impacts the elections for the Francophone Northwest school subdistricts 1, 2, 3 and 4 and well as Anglophone West sub-district 1. Elections are also suspended for Vitalité Health Network subregions A3 and A4.
“Electors in the impacted areas will not be sent their voter information cards until such time as we are advised the lockdown has been lifted and that we are able to ensure we can rebook polling locations and provide the necessary training to poll workers,” Poffenroth said.
The suspension of voting also means that the reporting of results for the rest of the province will be delayed until all electors have had the opportunity to cast a ballot. This is necessary because of the option for an elector from one part of the province to cast their ballot at another returning office if they are away from the place where they would normally vote.
A determination as to when the municipal electoral officer may restart the electoral process in the affected area is dependant on the duration of the lockdown.
11-04-21