Returning Officers

To be a Returning Officer is to accept a huge responsibility. You are at the heart of the election in your district and must conduct the election according to the standards of the Chief Electoral Officer and the Elections Act.

If you were a Returning Officer, your duties would include:

appointing and training the election staff for your district, including an Election Clerk, Revision Assistant, and Poll Officials
leasing, equipping, furnishing, and managing a returning office
keeping the List of Electors for each polling division in your electoral district up to date and available, as well as revising it during and between elections
maintaining good public relations by answering questions and providing information to electors, candidates, and the media
undertaking projects between elections as directed by the Chief Electoral Officer

You could be removed from the office at any time if you:

no longer reside in your electoral district
are not able to act during an election
have failed to perform your duties satisfactorily
are no longer seen to be neutral politically

How Do You Get the Job?

Appointed by Nova Scotia’s Chief Electoral Officer for a 10-year period, a provincial returning officer administers the electoral process in the electoral district in which he or she lives. The position calls for broad management experience and a variety of skills. The work is diverse, challenging and rewarding. And, by its nature, it is impartial and non-partisan.

The election clerks in each electoral district and assistant returning officers in selected electoral districts are appointed by the returning officer in consultation with the Chief Electoral Officer and serves for the duration of an electoral event. There is no residency requirement for an election clerk or assistant returning officer.

List of Returning Officers, May 2013 (PDF)
Returning Officer Job Description (PDF)
Election Clerk Job Description (PDF)