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

As of the 8:00 p.m. deadline to apply for a Special Ballot, we have received approximately 110,000 emails, phone calls, faxes, mailed and online applications. Some of these requests, especially those made by phone and email, were from eligible voters requesting mail out ballots for several members of the same household. Therefore, the 110,000 figure does not necessarily mean 110,000 applications. We estimate it may be much more than that.

Approximately 24,000 voting kits have been mailed out to date. We ask the electorate to be patient with us as we work hard to get the remaining kits mailed out this week.

We have heard from many electors who expressed concerns that the deadline to return Special Ballots was insufficient, mainly due to concerns over delivery delays resulting from inclement weather.

Therefore, we are extending the deadline to return Special Ballots to Elections Newfoundland and Labrador.

All ballots must be post-marked by Friday, March 12 in order to be counted.

This allows Newfoundlanders and Labradorians three weeks to receive, mark and return their ballots.

Any ballots post-marked after Friday, March 12 will be rejected.

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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