Students who are ordinarily resident in one electoral district or region of New Brunswick but are attending a post-secondary institution elsewhere in the province, have the unique opportunity to have their name placed either on the voters list in their “home” electoral district or region and vote for a candidate in that district or region, or to have their name placed on the voters list for the electoral district or region where they are living while going to school.
If a student from another province declares that New Brunswick is now their home, or “ordinary residence”, and has lived in New Brunswick for at least 40 days, that person can apply to be put on the voters list and to vote. It is important to remember, however, that NO ONE can be ordinarily resident in more than one province at the same time, regardless of where they temporarily reside or for what purpose they are residing there.
All student electors must have lived in the province for 40 days prior to Election Day and must also meet the other standard qualifications to vote.
Bill is from British Columbia but has been attending a university in New Brunswick for the past two years. He went back to BC for the summer to work but is returning in the fall to resume his studies. He has made New Brunswick his home or “ordinary residence”. As long as Bill can produce identification showing his name, signature, and the residence in the riding where he is living, and signs the declaration confirming New Brunswick is his ordinary residence, he is eligible to vote and to apply to be added to the voters list in New Brunswick.
Sarah left her parents’ home in Bathurst to attend community college in Saint John. She is renting an apartment with two other friends in Saint John. Sarah has the choice to either vote for a candidate running in her home riding in Bathurst, or she can choose to vote for a candidate in the riding where she is living while attending school. She must produce identification that shows her name, signature, and the address of the residence in the riding where she is choosing to vote, and sign the declaration confirming New Brunswick is her ordinary residence, in order to be added to the voters list.
Josh is a first-year student from Nova Scotia who has come to New Brunswick to go to university. He arrived on August 25, a week before classes began. A provincial general election is scheduled for October 21. If Josh has chosen New Brunswick as his new home or “ordinary residence” and signs the declaration to this effect, Josh is eligible to vote in the general election because he meets the requirement of being “ordinarily resident” in the province for 40 days prior to the election.
Dana, a third-year student from Ontario, has lived in the province long enough to be eligible to vote but has not made New Brunswick their “ordinary residence”. They voted in their home province’s most recent provincial election and only considers New Brunswick their temporary residence while attending school. Dana is not eligible to vote in a provincial or municipal election held in this province.