Early voting numbers down from 2021 provincial election

Statistics released by Elections Nova Scotia show the number of people taking advantage of early voting in this election across Nova Scotia lagged behind the numbers recorded during the 2021 vote.

A total of 160,698 early votes were cast before election day for the 42nd provincial general election. During early voting in the 2021 provincial general election, a total of 176,793 early votes were cast before election day. During early voting in the 2017 provincial general election, a total of 118,623 early votes were cast before election day.

During early voting, 107,812 votes were cast at the returning office continuous polls in the 55 electoral districts. At community polls, 22,315 votes were cast and 24,425 votes were cast at advance polls, and Elections Nova Scotia processed 6,146 applications for write-in ballots.

Voting day

A delayed start in voting at one poll outside Halifax means that results of the Nova Scotia provincial election will be published an hour later than planned tonight.

Elections Nova Scotia spokeswoman Naomi Shelton said in an interview with The Canadian Press that the poll station in Mushaboom will remain open until 9 p.m. to compensate for the late start.

The law requires that no results be released until all polls close.

She says counting in the rest of the province will begin at 8 p.m., so when results are posted, they will likely flow rapidly and be “robust.”