In-Person Voting Canceled in Several Areas due to COVID-19

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Chief Electoral Officer, Bruce Chaulk announced this afternoon that election workers have resigned out of fear of interacting with the public on Election Day due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.

Due to the lack of available staff and the large number of individuals currently in self-isolation, in-person voting in the following electoral districts will be postponed to a later date:

• Cape St. Francis

• Carbonear – Trinity – Bay de Verde

• Conception Bay East – Bell Island

• Conception Bay South

• Ferryland

• Harbour Grace – Port de Grave

• Harbour Main

• Mount Pearl North

• Mount Pearl – Southlands

• Mount Scio

• Placentia – St. Mary’s

• St. John’s Centre

• St. John’s East – Quidi Vidi

• St. John’s West

• Virginia Waters – Pleasantville

• Waterford Valley

• Windsor Lake

As a result, the drive-thru voting option previously announced is also cancelled.

Traditional voting will continue on Saturday, February 13, 2021, in all electoral districts not listed above. The results of these districts cannot be released until voting has concluded in all districts to protect the integrity of the vote.

Special ballot voting will be made available to all regions of the province.

Any eligible voter may apply to vote by mail using a special ballot. The deadline to apply is Saturday, February 13 at 8:00 p.m. to align with the time and date of the closing of the polls.

After the application is approved, a special ballot kit will be mailed to the elector and must be returned to Elections NL (via postage-paid Express Post envelope provided or by drop off) on or before Thursday, February 25, 2021.

Interested electors may apply by:

• Submitting an online application at www.elections.gov.nl.ca

• Emailing an application to specialballots@gov.nl.ca

• Printing and submitting an application by fax (709-729-5671)

Applications can be downloaded here.