Premier Blaine Higgs has called an election.
New Brunswickers will vote on September 14th, in Canada’s first pandemic election.
The election will look different than previous ones, says Higgs.
“As difficult as it is to imagine, our candidates will not be going door to door and they will not be leaving any hand delivered paper or brochures on your doorstep. Candidates will need to be creative and innovative.”
In questions with the press after his announcement, Higgs seemed to say he would be willing to make legislative changes that might be requested by Elections New Brunswick in order to conduct the election safely.
However, with the legislature now dissolved at Higgs’ request, it’s unclear how that would happen.
Higgs repeated his message that it is up to Elections New Brunswick to figure out how to conduct the election safely, even amidst the pandemic.
“It is the duty of Elections New Brunswick to develop new protocols, especially now under COVID requirements, and meeting the safety rules of public health. And so any suggestions that would improve our ability for access, while at the same time respecting the public health requirements, I’m certainly open to move that forward quickly in the legislature. But it would be something Elections NB would have to put forward, because everyone needs a right to vote.”
Voters list update underway
Elections New Brunswick started the process of updating the voters list earlier in August.
The agency mailed out bright yellow envelopes with current voters list information, and asked people to call with any updates.
Chief Electoral Officer Kim Poffenroth encouraged people to “vote early, either at advance polls or at the returning office, to shift voter traffic away from the traditional peak voting times.”
Poffenroth said this could help “flatten the election curve.”
Twice-weekly ‘return to school’ update on pause
The election call has altered plans for regular, bi-weekly Return to School updates.
Previously, the department of Education had planned to host updates on the return to school plan twice per week until September 3.
Those updates will no longer happen twice per week.
Dates for future updates have yet to be determined.
