Nova Scotians taking advantage of opportunities to vote early during pandemic election
Junior Barnes wasn't planning to vote Tuesday, but after speaking with us outside a returning office, he decided to go for it.
"I've made a decision, and the decision is to vote on the party that will give me what I need -- or not me, but everybody," Barnes said.
Helen Skidmore hasn't voted yet, but is planning to soon, noting she knows who she's voting for.
David Murphy is still undecided.
"A lot of times politicians will make decisions and you want to be absolutely sure they are going to do what they deliver on," Murphy said.
So far, more than 20,000 Nova Scotians have cast early ballots — nearly three times as many as at this point in the last provincial election in 2017. The early voting count is a sum of the ballots cast at returning offices, community polls, and the applications made for write-in ballots -- some of which may not be sent in, but once a person applies for one, it is added to the tally.
"Because more people are voting early doesn't mean that there will be necessarily a greater overall voter turnout, it just means they're coming out earlier in the election period," said Naomi Shelton with Elections Nova Scotia.
But she does believe the numbers show Nova Scotians are receiving their message to vote safe and vote early. Up until the Saturday before Election day, which is Tuesday Aug. 17, voters can vote at any returning office in the province.
Aug. 7 is the last day someone can apply online for a write-in ballot.
WRITE-IN BALLOT APPLICATION DEADLINES
The deadline to apply on-line or by mail for a write-in ballot is Saturday, Aug. 7 at 6 p.m.
The deadlines to apply for a write-in ballot in person or by agent are as follows:
- Saturday, Aug. 14 – 6 p.m. (out of district)
- Tuesday, Aug. 17 – 3 p.m. (in district)
All write-in ballot kits must be returned before the close of voting on election day to be counted.
New Brunswick was the first Canadian province to hold an election since the pandemic began. More than half of the 376,903 ballots cast happened before Election Day through special ballots or advanced polls.
"Much like our counterparts in Nova Scotia, we took the approach of promoting and encouraging electors to take advantage of early voting opportunities," said Paul Harpelle with Elections New Brunswick.
A message that's being echoed in Nova Scotia and the early voting numbers appear to show that it's being heard.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.