Election Day
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
8am to 8pm

Early Voting Options – Vote Early, Vote Safely!
Before election day voters can vote safely at any returning office or early voting location in the province.

Returning Office
Open Mondays to Saturdays – Closed Sundays
9am to 6pm
or until 8pm Thursday, August 12, and Friday, August 13
Vote safely at any Returning Office in Nova Scotia before election day.

Community Polls
Saturday, July 31 to Saturday, August 14
9am to 6pm
or until 8pm Thursday, August 12 and Friday, August 13
Closed Sundays

Advance Poll
Saturday, August 7 to Saturday, August 14
9am to 6pm
or until 8pm Thursday, August 12 and Friday, August 13
Closed Sunday August 8
You can vote safely at any early voting location in Nova Scotia

Vote by Mail – Write-in Ballot Applications

It is important for voters to understand the deadlines to apply for a write-in ballot and when and how to return their completed write-in ballot kit so it can be counted.

Write-in Ballot Application Deadlines
The deadline to apply on-line or by mail for a write-in ballot is Saturday, August 7 at 6pm.
The deadlines to apply for a write-in ballot in person or by agent are as follows:

• Saturday, August 14 – 6pm (out of district)
• Tuesday, August 17 – 3pm (in district)

All write-in ballots must be returned by 8 pm on election day to be counted.

Voters are asked to please allow adequate time so their write-in ballot can be returned.

You can also make an appointment through your local returning office for a write-in ballot team to visit you at home to help you vote. Write-in ballots conducted every day except Sunday during hours the returning office is returning office is open.

If you are a Canadian citizen who is 18 years or older on election day (August 17, 2021) and have lived in Nova Scotia for the six months or more before the day the election was called (since January 17, 2021), then you have the right to vote in the 41st provincial general election.

Getting on the List of Electors is easy! You can register online, by mail or email, and in person when you go to vote. Voters on the list will automatically be mailed a Voter Information Card during the election. Please click here to learn more about getting on the voters list .

There are many options available to vote safely during the 41st Provincial General Election. It is important for voters to learn about their safe voting options to make their voting plan.

You can vote by mail using a write-in ballot or vote safely in-person before election day at any returning office or early voting location in the province. On election day, you may vote safely in-person at your assigned voting location or the returning office in your electoral district.

You are encouraged to consider the safe voting option that is right for you and plan to vote early or vote by mail using a write-in ballot to help keep the spread of COVID-19 low. For more information on your safe voting options, visit the How can I vote section of this website.

All eligible voters can vote by mail using a write-in ballot. It’s easy to apply. You can apply on-line or by printing and mailing a paper form. Voting by mail using a write-in ballot is safe and easy!

You can have a trusted friend or family member who is 18 years or older act as your agent. They can assist you to apply for your write-in ballot and can help to return it for you. To find out more about a write-in ballot agent, please call the retuning office in your electoral district.

You can also make an appointment through your local returning office for a write-in ballot team to visit you at home to help you vote. Write-in ballots conducted every day except Sunday during hours the returning office is returning office is open.

Elections Nova Scotia, worked with Public Health to determine the precautions needed to ensure the safety and confidence of voters, election workers, candidates, and their campaign teams during the 41st Provincial General Election. Elections Nova Scotia is committed to delivering a safe, fair, and inclusive election.

Strict COVID-19 protocols including masking, physical distancing, and extra cleaning are in place at all voting locations. Please click here for more information on the COVID-19 precautions in place for the 41st Provincial General Election, or visit the frequently asked questions (FAQ).

Elections Nova Scotia is hiring election workers for the 41st provincial general election. If you would like to work during the 41st provincial general election, please contact the returning office in your electoral district. Click here for a list of contact information for all returning offices in the 55 electoral districts. Thank you for wanting to be a part of the democratic process!

Candidate nominations for the 41st provincial general election close on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at 2:00 pm. Candidates must complete official nomination forms and submit them to their returning officer to have their name added to the ballot.

Click here for a chart of currently nominated candidates by electoral district.

Click here for a chart of the candidate and party spending limits and reimbursements for the 41st provincial general election. Third party maximum spending is listed as well.

Candidates:

• Tax receipts (s. 252(6)), Form 2-5 including unused, spoiled and copy of used tax receipts – Due September 16, 2021
• Financial report (s. 229) including Audit report- Due November 15, 2021

Registered Party:

• Election Expense Report (s. 223) – Due December 29, 2021

During a provincial general election the Elections Act regulates requirements for election-related signs, and other forms of election advertising including third-party advertising. Click here for more information about election advertising, campaign signage, and third-party advertising.

Click here for a list of registered third parties for the 41st provincial general election.

Third party: Election Advertising Report (s. 282(1))- Due December 17, 2021

In the fall of 2019, House of Assembly legislated 55 electoral district boundaries as recommended by the Electoral Boundaries Commission. These 55 new district boundaries have come into force for the 41st Provincial General Election (41st).

For maps of all 55 provincial electoral districts, interactive maps, and maps in shapefile and KMZ Google Earth formats, please visit the Maps for the 41st Provincial General Election page in the resource section of this website.

When new electoral boundaries are enacted, Elections Nova Scotia prepares a report to illustrate the transposition of votes from the previous Provincial General Election based on the new electoral boundaries. Please click here for the transposition report that illustrates how the votes from the 2017 Provincial General Election fit with the new 2019 electoral boundaries.

The new 55 electoral district boundaries also required new returning officer appointments. The new appointments are in place and more information can be found on the Returning Officer page.

Elections Nova Scotia has some new policies in place that apply to candidates and election workers for the 41st Provincial General Election. These include the following:

• Campaign Access to Multi-unit Buildings Policy – Fact sheet and Q&A
• Candidate Electoral Support Program (CESP) Policy – Fact sheet, Q&A, and application form
• Candidate Name Appearance Policy – Fact sheet and Q&A
• Election Worker Expense Claim Policy
• French Language Policy – available in French and in English