Organization : Elections Nova Scotia
Facility : Find Your Returning Officer
Province : Nova Scotia
Country : Canada
Find Your Returning Officer : https://enstools.electionsnovascotia.ca/
Home Page : https://electionsnovascotia.ca/home
Electoral District Information :
(Enter an address using the examples below as a guideline. Do not enter a unit number.)
Eg : 903A Main Rd W Exten, Bedford, Halifax OR 999A Chemin Deveau O Exten, Chéticamp, Inverness
Select an electoral district from the list or from the map
Does Nova Scotia have fixed election dates? :
No. The government can call an election at any time by passing an Order in Council calling an election. Election day is always on a Tuesday, not less than 30 days from the date of the writ.
What is the maximum time a government can hold office? :
The House of Assembly can continue for five years with an extra 40 days after the issuing of the writs for a general election.
How many Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are there in Nova Scotia? :
There are 51 elected MLAs in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly; one from each electoral district. The next Provincial General election will be held in 51 electoral districts as determined by the 2 012 Report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission.
What is an Electoral District? :
An electoral district, often called a riding or constituency, is a geographical area whose residents are represented by one member in the House of Assembly. Electoral district boundaries are set out in the House of Assembly Act.
Is my MLA still my MLA during an election? :
Technically, no. The passing of the Order in Council calling the general election dissolves the House of Assembly. If there is no House, there can be no members. The Executive Council (Cabinet) remains intact.
General FAQ :
What is the difference between a by-election and an election? :
A by-election is held in just one particular electoral district to fill a vacancy in the House of Assembly because a member has resigned, been expelled, or died. An election, also called a general election, is held in all electoral districts at the same time.
Why do we have a List of Electors? :
Qualified electors in Nova Scotia are entitled to one vote each. By maintaining a List of Electors we can ensure votes are being cast fairly. It also helps us prepare statistics that tell how many eligible Nova Scotians are voting. And the List speeds up and simplifies the voting process for voters at the polls.
How is the List of Electors maintained? :
We update it using many different sources. On an ongoing basis, Elections Nova Scotia selectively uses data from a number of sources including the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Vital Statistics, the Nova Scotia Civic Address File, Elections Canada, municipal elections and field work done by Returning Officers and Elections Nova Scotia staff. Many electors contact our office directly to be registered on the List. During enumeration we go physically from door-to-door to update the List.
Is my information on the List of Electors kept private? :
Yes. Personal information on the List of Electors is only used for election purposes.
When was the last general election in Nova Scotia? How many have there been? :
Nova Scotia has had 39 general elections. The most recent was on October 19, 2013.
Can politicians advertise when no election has been called? :
Yes. The Elections Act does not prohibit advertising outside an election period. However, all forms of advertising are subject to the rule that every advertisement relating to an election that promotes or opposes any candidate or recognized party shall bear the words “authorized by the official agent for [name of candidate or recognized party]” and must indicate on whose behalf the advertisement was published.
Are there any rules governing the political activities of federal public service employees? :
The Public Service Employment Act, provides a new regime for governing the political activities of federal public servants. The Act recognizes the need to balance the principle of an impartial federal public service with the rights of public service employees to engage in political activities. For more information, please visit psc-cfp.gc.ca/plac-acpl/index-eng.htm or contact the Public Service Commission of Canada’s Political Activities Directorate at 1-866-707-7152, by facsimile at 613-995-7699 or by email at pa-ap@psc-cfp.gc.ca
Are there any rules governing the political activities of provincial public service employees? :
Please refer to the Political Activity Rights of Nova Scotia Government Employees issued by the Nova Scotia Public Service Commission