Election Readiness Update Report
Media Release: April 29, 2021
Elections Nova Scotia – Chief Electoral Officer, Richard Temporale, has released a third update report on Elections Nova Scotia’s (ENS) planning for the 41st provincial general election.
The purpose of this election readiness report is to provide all Nova Scotians an update on where ENS’s election plans stand to date and challenges faced over the past two years including a year’s delay in funding, a global pandemic, and legislative uncertainty.
The report outlines the various ways in which election delivery may change and what the next provincial general election could look like when it is called. This includes voting safety measures to flatten the curve for COVID-19, an anticipated uptake in early voting options, potential challenges with election night vote counting, and the continued need for legislative clarity regarding the proclamation of Bill 225.
“In the absence of a fixed date for the election, Elections Nova Scotia must anticipate the earliest date on which a provincial general election may be called and plan and budget accordingly,” says Temporale. “What is most important at this time is to ensure that we are prepared when the writs are issued to deliver a safe, fair, inclusive and balanced election to the high standards that all voters, candidates and campaign teams have grown to expect.”
ENS previously identified challenges facing election readiness planning in reports published on November 6, 2019 and January 7, 2021.
All the election readiness update reports are available on the ENS website and can be accessed using the following links.
Contact: Naomi Shelton
Director, Policy and Communications
Elections Nova Scotia
902-424-3275 or 902-223-4871
naomi.shelton@novascotia.ca