FAQs

Who is eligible to vote?
What do you mean by “ordinarily resident”?
What ward do I live in?
How does the vote by mail procedure work?
Will my ballot remain secret?
Will the ballots be counted as they are received?
What accessibility considerations are in place for voters?
Can I still vote on election day at a Satellite Drop off Location?
What if I don't have any identification but want to vote?
What should I do if I didn’t receive a vote by mail kit in the mail?
When is the last day to mail my vote by mail kit back to City Hall?
What if I miss the deadline to send my vote by mail kit via Canada Post?
When will the official results of the election be released?
 


 
Who is eligible to vote?
 
You are eligible to vote if you are:
  • a Canadian citizen; and
  • 18 years of age or older; and
  • ordinarily reside in the City of St. John’s for 30 days preceding election day.

 
What do you mean by “ordinarily resident”?
 
Section 24 of The Municipal Elections Act defines your ordinary place of residence as follows:

(a) a person shall be a resident of the place where he or she lives and sleeps and to which, when absent, he or she intends to return; 
(b) residency is not lost by a person who leaves that residence for temporary purposes only; and
(c) the place where a person's family resides shall be his or her residence unless that person commences and continues to live at some other place with the intention of remaining there, in which case, the person shall be considered to be resident in the place in which he or she intends to reside. A person shall, for the purpose of this Act, have only one place of residency.

 
What ward do I live in?
 
Check out the Ward Look Up and enter your civic address to determine the ward you live in. You can also call Access St. John’s at 311 or 754-CITY (2489) for assistance.
 
How does the vote by mail procedure work?
 
Prior to election day, each voter on the voter’s list receives a Vote By Mail Kit. Simply follow the voting instructions provided in the kit. Voters will:

  1. complete their Ballot and insert into the Ballot Secrecy Envelope
  2. complete the Declaration Form
  3. insert the sealed Ballot Secrecy Envelope AND the Declaration Form into the yellow Election Return Envelope
  4. mail the sealed Election Return Envelope by the dated indicated on the voting instructions page

Will my ballot remain secret?
 
Yes. The process for sorting and storing the Vote By Mail Election Return Envelopes has security features that will protect the secrecy of your vote. As vote by mail returns are received by the City, elections staff immediately separate the Voter Declaration Form (VDF) from the sealed Secrecy Ballot Envelope. The VDF is scanned and registers the elector as having voted. The Secrecy Ballot Envelope remains sealed until election day and are secured with restricted access. The Election Coordinator is the key holder to the restricted access storage.

Will the Ballots be counted as they are received?
 
No. All returned Secrecy Envelopes containing the Ballots will be stored in a secured area until election day. 

What accessibility considerations are in place for voters?
 
Elections staff consult with the City’s Inclusion Advisory Committee for advice and direction regarding accessibility. Accessibility information can be found in the Accessibility section.

Can I still vote on election day at a Satellite Drop off Center? 
 
Yes, however voters are encouraged to vote by mail or drop off completed Ballots at the drop box located outside City Hall or at a Satellite Drop Centre in their ward. Eligible voters may cast their ballots at a Satellite Drop off Centre in their ward from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Voters who intend to register to vote at Satellite Drop off Centers must have acceptable identification available.

What if I don't have any identification but want to vote?
 
Visit City Hall up until the Monday immediately before the Election or a Satellite Drop off Centre on the day of the Election to complete an Affidavit swearing or affirming your identity and place of residence. Once the form is signed and witnessed by an official, you will receive a vote by mail kit to cast your vote.  

What should I do if I didn’t receive a vote by mail kit in the mail?

If you didn’t receive a vote by mail kit by 2 weeks before election day, you should:

 
When is the last day to mail my vote by mail kit back to City Hall?
 
Your vote by mail kit must be mailed via Canada Post by the Thursday before election day. Please note: dates are subject to change and are estimated based on Canada Post delivery standards.

What if I miss the deadline to send my vote by mail kit via Canada Post?
 
You may drop off your completed declaration and ballot at the drop box in front of City Hall 24 hours a day, 7 days a week up to 8 p.m. on election day. You may also drop off your declaration and ballot at a Satellite Drop off Center in your ward on election day between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Satellite Drop off Centers will only be open to receive kits on election day.

When will official results of the election be released?

Election results will be released at City Hall and on the City’s Website as they become available any time after 8 p.m. on election day.