Nova Scotia’s democratic process is built and protected by people like you – people who care about our province and want to play a part in keeping our fair and free voting process alive, well, and available to all.
Thanks for wanting to be a part of the democratic process!
Appointed by Nova Scotia’s Chief Electoral Officer, a provincial returning officer administers the electoral process in the electoral district in which they live. 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. Click here for more information on returning officer appointments including a list of duties.
Elections Nova Scotia is currently recruiting returning officers in the following twelve electoral districts:
If you are interested in being a returning officer, click here to complete the online Returning Officer Application. The returning officer application should be completed online. If you have difficulty with the application, please call 902-424-8584 or email elections@novascotia.ca.
Listed below are the positions that may be available during an election. Many of the positions are first made available to the people named by the candidates representing the parties that finished first or second in the electoral district in the previous general election. However, if the Returning Officer (RO) is not provided with sufficient qualified individuals, the RO will recruit directly.
Enumerators
Enumerators work with a partner to carry out enumeration. Enumeration is the process of updating the List of Electors for the election. Enumerators go door to door to collect registration information for all individuals eligible to vote living at each civic address. The number of hours worked by each pair of enumerators is dependent on the area and the number of houses to be visited that are required to visit
Write-in-Ballot Coordinator
The write-in ballot coordinator organizes efforts to provide voting opportunities to electors who may not be able to vote at a polling location for a number of reasons. The WIB Coordinator works with an Assistant WIB Coordinator as a team when visiting electors at their homes. Duties include scheduling, visiting electors in their home or in residential care centers with write-in ballot kits and ensuring a smooth and confidential voting process for each elector. Hours vary depending on the district in which you are working and the number of electors requiring write-in ballots for voting.
Assistant Write-in-Ballot Coordinator
The assistant to the write-in ballot coordinator assists the WIB Coordinator with coordinating visits to residential care centers as well to the homes of individual electors who may not be able to travel to a polling location. Your focus will be ensuring that electors who otherwise would not be able to vote are given the opportunity to cast a ballot using a write-in ballot kit. Hours will vary depending on the district in which they are working and the number of electors requiring write-in ballots for voting.
Deputy Returning Officer (DRO)
A Deputy Returning Officer also known as a DRO has very specific and important duties. These include providing ballots to electors and witnessing the ballots being deposited into the ballot box. The DRO alone is responsible for the ballots and the voting procedure. On election day, the DRO can expect to work an average of 13 hours.
Poll Clerk
The poll clerk is likely the first voting official an elector will meet when they arrive to vote. Duties include greeting and ‘processing’ electors and ensuring they have the documentation required to be issued a ballot by the DRO. The Poll Clerk’s priority is to help, document and guide an elector through the check-in process to ensure a smooth-running poll. On election day, the Poll Clerk can expect to work an average of 13 hours
Other positions possibly available are:
Presiding Officer
Ballot Box Courier
Information Officer
Constable
Student Election Officer aged 16-18 years of age