Elections New Brunswick

Vote by Mail

 

Overview

ENB-Mail

Any elector in New Brunswick can apply to vote by mail.  Usually, electors who choose this method of voting are temporarily studying, working, or travelling outside of the province, or who may be housebound due to incapacity or illness. 

The process requires electors to apply to vote using this form of special ballot, including their information and a signature that is used to validate that the ballot was marked by the
                                                                                    intended elector.

Electors who are not registered or cannot be located on the list of electors for an election, must be added to the List of Electors before a ballot may be sent.

  Note: A “power of attorney” does not and cannot give someone the right to vote for another eligible elector. 
  Similarly, New Brunswick does not permit “Proxy Voting”.
 

How do I apply for a mail in ballot?

Once an election is underway and returning offices have opened, any elector may contact the returning office for their electoral district or region to request to vote by mail using the following process:

If the eligible elector is unsure if their name is properly listed on the List of Electors, they can first call 1-888-858-VOTE (8683) to verify and update their information.

  • If an eligible elector must be added to the List of Electors, an Application for Addition to the List of Electors, form (C 05 801) must accompany the request to vote by mail, as well as a copy of one or more pieces of ID that show the elector’s name, address, and signature.  The completed form and identification can be sent using the same methods described below.

Electors have several options for making their request to vote by mail:

The elector must complete the form, sign the application and send it to the appropriate returning office by:

  • Scanning, or taking a high-resolution photo of the form and emailing it;

  • Having the form delivered by themselves, another person; or

  • Mailing or faxing the form.

How do I get my ballot?

Once an elector sends an Application for a Special Ballot to the Returning Office, the office prepares and sends a vote by mail package to the elector, by courier.

The package will contain an instruction sheet, the ballot, a secrecy envelope, and a certificate envelope.
 

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Secrecy Envelope

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Certificate Envelope

How do I vote?

When you receive your package, first review the instruction sheet.

Mark your ballot carefully. If you make a mistake, you must first return the mismarked ballot before a new one can be sent to you.

Once you have marked the ballot, insert it into the secrecy envelope and seal it.  Next, place the sealed secrecy envelope into the certificate envelope.  Make sure your information is correct on the certificate envelope, and sign the envelope.  Your signature must match the signature on your Application for a Special Ballot.  Seal the certificate envelope.

Electors are responsible for getting the certificate envelope containing their ballot back to the returning office, at their own expense. They may also choose to have someone hand-deliver it to the returning office

As stated above, your ballot must arrive at the returning office before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.  Any ballots that arrive after this time cannot be counted.
 

Your vote by mail package contains 4 items and instructions on how to vote.
Carefully follow each step to make sure your ballot will be counted.

Step 1

ballot-bulletin

Please use a black marker or black pen to mark your ballot.  Fill in the circle for the candidates you are voting for. 

Step 2

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Fold your ballot in half so it fits in the ballot envelope. Make sure to seal your envelope to keep your vote secret.

 

Step 3

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Sign your certificate envelope
and seal it.

Step 4

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Your ballot must be returned to the returning office from where it was issued before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

How is my ballot counted?

Once your certificate envelope arrives at the returning office, two election officers work together to compare the signatures on the original Application for a Special Ballot and the certificate envelope.

  • If it is decided the signatures do not match, the certificate envelope is set aside, and will not be opened.
  • If the signatures do match, the certificate envelope is opened, and the secrecy envelope is removed.  The unopened secrecy envelope is placed into a ballot box for later counting.

On the Sunday prior to Election Day, all of the secrecy envelopes are opened in the presence of scrutineers.  The ballots are then deposited into a tabulation machine to be counted, like any other ballot.  This process is repeated on election night after 8 p.m. for any remaining secrecy envelopes that were returned on Election Day.