Qualifications To Vote
You are qualified to vote if you are:
- a Canadian citizen,
- at least 18 years of age by Election Day,
- have been ordinarily resident somewhere in New Brunswick for at least 40 days before Election Day, and
- be living in the riding where you apply to vote.
Student Voters
Students who are ordinarily resident in one electoral district in 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 List of Electors in their "home" electoral district and vote for a candidate in that district, or to have their name placed on the List of Electors for the electoral district where they are living while going to school.
If a student from another province declares that New Brunswick is now their home (i.e. their ordinary residence), and has lived in New Brunswick for at least 40 days, that student can apply to be added to the List of Electors 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.
Examples
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Bill is from British Columbia, but has been attending a university in New Brunswick for the past two years. He went back to B.C. for the summer to work, but is returning in the fall to resume his studies. He has made New Brunswick his permanent 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 can apply to be added to the voters list. |
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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. |
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Josh is a first year student from Nova Scotia who has come to New Brunswick to go to university. He arrived on August 31, a week before classes begin. A provincial general election is scheduled for September 14. Josh is not eligible to vote in the general election because he does not meet the requirement of being "ordinarily resident" in the province for 40 days prior to the election. |
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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. |
ID Requirements
If your name is not on the List of Electors it must be added before you vote. To get added to the List of Electors you must first meet the qualifications to vote and provide one or more pieces of ID that between them show your name, current address and signature. (Credit or financial cards are not acceptable.)
A New Brunswick driver's license contains all three and is the ideal piece of identification. Other options may include:
- a lease agreement,
- a utility bill,
- a student ID and C 05 217, Proof of Address for Students Living on Campus,
- other documentation that provides the above three requirements.
If you don't have identification documents, you may also have an eligible elector who is on the List of Electors at the polling station vouch for you, and swear an oath that you meet the qualifications to vote.
You will be required to sign a declaration that you are ordinarily resident in New Brunswick, meet the qualifications to vote as outlined above, and wish to be added to the List of Electors.
Campus Voting Schedule 2024
How to Vote On Campus
Once your name is on the List of Electors, as an elector you must state your name and address to the election officer and have your name struck off as voting in the election.
The election officer will issue you either a Write-In Ballot or a pre-printed ballot.
Using a Write-In Ballot:
You must print or write the name of the candidate who you wish to vote for. You cannot simply print the name of a political party.
If you are unsure of the name of the candidate you wish to vote for, visit www.electionsnb.ca and look up the name of the candidate prior to beginning the voting process.
Using a Pre-Printed Ballot:
To vote, completely fill in the circle to the right of your choice.
Other Options
You can also apply in person to obtain a ballot for your "home" electoral district at any Returning Office in the province, and cast your ballot there at the same time. You can also request that the Returning Office in your "home" electoral district mail you a special ballot, and then you must ensure the ballot is received back at that Returning Office by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
