The following is a statement from Newfoundland and Labrador’s Chief Electoral Officer, Bruce Chaulk:

Understandably, Newfoundland and Labrador’s move to Alert Level 5 has caused significant anxiety among the electorate regarding the application process to obtain a special ballot in order to vote in this election. We have already received approximately 20,000 applications.

Primarily, I have a responsibility to my staff here at Elections NL to ensure a safe working environment. We are in the process of having a deep clean completed and we are restructuring our working environment to separate staff members. This has caused a delay in communication in terms of our ability to answer phone calls from our toll-free line and direct office lines. Currently, the voicemail boxes are full. Our phone issues should be resolved later today.

In the meantime, we encourage anyone who has internet and computer access at home to apply for a special ballot online. It is a simple process – complete the digital form directly on our website and upload a photo of some form of identification that shows your name and current address. Elections NL does not require photo ID.

We are also hearing the concerns of people all throughout Newfoundland and Labrador regarding accessibility to computers and internet and the inability to provide identification digitally. I say to those people – if you are able, please call Elections NL on the phone. If we can verify that you are on the voters list, we will issue you a voting kit.

This situation remains fluid. We will be reevaluating the deadlines announced to ensure that we are able to assist as many people as possible.

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Media contact
Adrienne Luther
Communications and Training Manager
Elections Newfoundland and Labrador
Office of the Chief Electoral Officer
709-729-1474, 687-4217
adrienneluther@gov.nl.ca