E-balloting will Begin Tomorrow in the Preston By-election
E-balloting will Begin Tomorrow in the Preston By-election
Media Release: July 19, 2023
Elections Nova Scotia – Nominations for the Preston by-election close today, July 19 at 2 pm. Early voting before the close of nominations is done using the write-in ballot format. When nominations are closed, early voting will switch to Elections Nova Scotia’s new secure E-ballot system.
E-balloting is in-person digital voting at a voting location using a secure tablet. The e-balloting system is safe and allows voters to select the candidate of their choice on a secure 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.
The Preston by-election is the first opportunity for voters to cast their ballot using Elections Nova Scotia’s new e-balloting system. In fact, the Preston by-election is the first use of e-balloting in Canada.
E-balloting allows fast and secure counting of early votes when the polls close on election night. This means the results of the Preston by-election will be returned quickly and efficiently.
E-balloting will only be used after the close of nominations for early voting prior to election day. Traditional paper ballots will be used for voting on election day in Preston, Tuesday, August 8, 2023.
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.
E-balloting is not internet voting. E-balloting takes place in-person at a voting location on a secure tablet while internet voting is remote voting.
Voters in Preston that have questions about the by-election can call the returning office at 1-888-503-5835.
Elections Nova Scotia is a non-partisan and independent agency responsible for conducting provincial elections. For more information, please visit electionsnovascotia.ca or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @electionsns.
Media Contact:
Naomi Shelton
Director, Policy and Communications
Elections Nova Scotia
902-424-3275
902-223-4871
naomi.shelton@novascotia.ca