While it may be nearly a year later than planned, election day is finally upon us.
With the exception of residents in the Edmundston-Madawaska region, New Brunswickers will decide today who represents municipal councils, district education councils and regional health authority boards.
This year, voters are encouraged to arrive at the polls prepared.
“Everyone should remember to bring their voter information card if they received it, that will allow them to be processed more quickly at the polls and everyone should bring their face masks,” said Kim Poffenroth, chief electoral officer for Elections New Brunswick.
Residents who misplaced or did not receive a voter information card will still be able to cast their ballot at their local polling station.
Pandemic-related safety measures will be similar to those used in last fall’s provincial election, said Poffenroth.
“We had to increase space within polling locations to allow for social distance and put markings on the floor to make sure people maintain that six feet,” she said.
“We have a few extra people working at every polling location responsible for cleaning high contact surfaces, wiping down markers and secrecy sleeves between each voter, and another individual whose primary job is to make sure people are wearing their face masks, and maintaining crowd control.”
Polling stations will be open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Meantime, results from today’s election will not be released at the close of polling tonight.
Voters in the Edmundston area will not be casting a ballot today.
There were delays implemented due to the area being under stricter COVID-19 protocols.
Those have now been lifted and the area remains at the orange level of recovery.
Residents in the Edmundston-Madawaska region will have an opportunity to vote during advanced polls on May 15 and 17th.
Election day in that part of the province is on May 25th.
Results will be released after 8 o’clock that night.
