Provincewide Voter Enumeration to Start in September

A provincewide enumeration of Nova Scotia voters is set to start on Thursday, Sept. 8.

Chief electoral officer Christine McCulloch said today, Aug. 19, the enumeration is part of the plan, announced in mid-April, to develop a made-in-Nova Scotia list of electors.

"To develop an accurate, up-to-date and complete list will require everyone's support and participation," said Ms. McCulloch. "Once the enumeration starts, I encourage people to participate to ensure that they are included on the list of electors. This is the list of people who meet the qualifications to vote."

About 4,200 enumerators will be going door-to-door in 51 of Nova Scotia's 52 electoral districts to search out those who are eligible to be on the list. The only exception is Chester-St. Margaret's electoral district, where an enumeration took place earlier this spring prior to the June 21 byelection.

The enumerators will conduct a door-to-door canvass over a 12-day period to collect and confirm voter information. If residents are not at home when enumerators call, notices will be left in mail boxes and under doors advising them how to get their names on the list of electors. Enumerators will return again and perhaps a third time in an effort to find residents at home to get them on the list.

"We are also conducting an extensive public information campaign on radio and in newspapers across the province," the chief electoral officer said. "It will tell people what they can do to make certain that they are on our list and that their information is correct. It will tell people soon to be qualified how to get on the list.

"We are doing everything we can to ensure that we develop a comprehensive and permanent made-in-Nova Scotia list that can be used for future elections. We are also implementing various ways to have voter information updated to keep it current," said Ms. McCulloch.

In its report on the 2003 provincial election, the Nova Scotia Election Commission concluded that the use of a permanent, Nova Scotia-produced list would help prevent most of the voting problems encountered in that election.

All three political parties support the use of a Nova Scotia-made permanent list and the reinstatement of provincewide enumeration.

"We fully endorse and welcome the return to a provincewide enumeration of eligible voters," said Justice Minister Michael Baker.

"Our primary concern is to ensure that every eligible voter in Nova Scotia is counted and has the opportunity to exercise their right to vote," said NDP representative Kevin Deveaux.

"The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, so an up-to-date voters' list is vitally important," said Liberal party representative Wayne Gaudet.