Fast Facts About Provincial Elections

By Communications Nova Scotia Staff

YES WE HAVE NO MLAs
The proclamation that sets the date of the election also dissolves the legislature. Since there is no Legislative Assembly there can be no members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).

The Executive Council, or cabinet, does remain intact to govern the province.

Since there are no MLAs, however, it is incorrect to say that Susan Smith is the incumbent for the riding of Picturesque Nova. An incumbent is the holder of an office, which Ms. Smith no longer is. It would be more accurate to say Ms. Smith was a member of the last House, or that she represented the riding of Picturesque Nova in the last legislature.

WHAT'S A WRIT? The Canadian Oxford Dictionary defines a writ as a "written command in the name of a sovereign, court or government to act, or abstain from acting, in some way."

While most people will say the election was called on July 5, you may hear someone talk about the writ being dropped. Actually 52 writs are issued -- one for each electoral district in the province.

The writs are simply the legal documents authorizing the election of members of the Legislative Assembly. After the voting, the documents are returned with the election results to the clerk of the Executive Council.

IT MUST BE TUESDAY
If it's a Nova Scotia election, it must be Tuesday.

Since the early 1960s, provincial elections have been required by law to be held on that day of the week. The fixed day for voting followed a recommendation of the 1960 Royal Commission on Provincial Elections.

The commission, after examining elections legislation in several jurisdictions, said a fixed polling day would permit the setting up of a timetable to properly accommodate the processes needed for an election.

It decided against Monday, the day of choice for federal elections, because many holidays fall on that day.

The commission opted instead to make official Nova Scotia's custom of taking to the polls on Tuesday, giving returning officers one extra weekday to get ready.