News release

Amendments to Municipal Elections Act Will Make Voting Easier

Municipal Affairs (April 2014 - May 2019)

Amendments to the Municipal Elections Act introduced today, Nov. 27, will make it easier to vote in municipal and school board elections.

"Our democratic society is grounded in our right to choose the people who govern us, but many people don't vote in municipal and school board elections," said Municipal Affairs Minister Zach Churchill. "With these amendments, we're making voting easier and encouraging more Nova Scotians to participate in local government."

Changes that make it easier for people to vote include:

  • people who have been living in Nova Scotia for six months and are residents of a particular community on advance polling day will be eligible to vote in that community, rather than having to reside there for three months
  • it will be possible to add people to the list of voters up to three days before the first advance poll, which is in October, rather than by the end of August
  • people who are not on the list of voters when they arrive at the poll, and who have no identification, will be able to vote by swearing an oath or affirming their identity.

Other amendments include requiring all candidates to file a campaign disclosure statement to increase transparency around campaign finances.

Amendments were developed by a committee of election officials and Department of Municipal Affairs staff. The department also consulted about 100 municipal and school board officials on the amendments this summer.

"The municipal services we depend upon every day such as police, roads, traffic control, and garbage pickup, are essential," said Claire Detheridge, president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities. "We need people to participate in local government to make sure their voices are heard.

"We are pleased the province is taking steps to remove barriers to voting and to ensure the integrity of the voting process."

The next municipal and school board elections will take place Oct. 15, 2016.

More information about the amendments is available at http://novascotia.ca/dma/government/elections/mea-amendments.asp.