FREDERICTON (GNB) – Residents in two regions of New Brunswick are reminded that advance polls for plebiscites on two community restructuring projects will take place on Saturday, Nov. 23.

In southern New Brunswick, the local service district of Hanwell will vote on becoming a rural community. In northern New Brunswick, residents of 18 local service districts and a portion of two others will vote on becoming a regional municipality: Benoit, Brantville, Gauvreau-Petit Tracadie, Upper Portage River (Haut-Rivière-du-Portage), Haut-Sheila, Leech, Pointe-à-Bouleau, Pont LaFrance, Sainte-Rose, Pont Landry, Rivière à la Truite, Portage River-Tracadie Beach, Saumarez, Parish of Saumarez (Canton des Basques, Pointe-à-Tom, Pointe-des Robichaud), Saint Irénée and Alderwood, Saint-Pons, Parish of Inkerman (Six Roads), Val-Comeau and a small portion of the local service districts of Tabusintac and Inkerman Centre (Four Roads) and the town of Tracadie-Sheila.

“Advance polls take place on Nov. 23 and the plebiscites take place on Dec. 2,” Environment and Local Government Minister Danny Soucy said. “Local committees in these areas have done a lot of work analyzing the feasibility of becoming incorporated. I encourage residents to become informed and to vote on these important issues.”

Residents can find polling information online or by calling Elections New Brunswick at 1-888-858-VOTE (8683). Voter information cards were sent by mail advising people of their designated voting locations. Voters are encouraged to bring their cards with them for faster service.

The rural community program was recently updated as part of the province's Action Plan for a New Local Governance System, released in 2011.

Over the past several months, steering committees in these areas have worked with the Department of Environment and Local Government in studying if the rural community and regional municipality models are right for their residents. The committees are made up of local service district advisory committee members, business representatives, and local residents. They studied issues such as establishing geographical boundaries, maintaining community identity, providing local services, and projecting expenditures and revenues.

Information sessions and public consultations were also carried out as part of the development of the feasibility studies. A summary of the feasibility study reports was recently mailed out to all the residents qualified to vote, to help them make an informed choice.

Results of the votes will be announced on Dec. 3. More information about the process for becoming a rural community can be found online.