New COVID-19 Variant Forces In Person Voting To Be Cancelled

Newfoundland and Labrador will all be done by mail in ballots

On January 15, 2021, Liberal Leader Andrew Furey has announced Newfoundland and Labrador were heading for a general election on February 13, 2021. And just yesterday, the Chief Electoral Officer for the province Bruce Chaulk announced the suspension of all in person voting due to the outbreak of a new COVID-19 variant.

“As a result of this evening’s change to Newfoundland and Labrador’s Public Health Alert Level, I am suspending in-person voting for all 40 provincial electoral districts. In-person voting will not be rescheduled.” Said Chaulk

The election will now shift exclusively to voting by mail, using Special Ballots. All interested in voting in this election is being urged to apply for a Special Ballot to ensure your democratic participation. The application deadline has been extended to Monday, February 15 at 8:00 p.m. 

Furey’s Liberals were facing scrutiny for holding an election in the middle of a global pandemic, even though there has been several elections held within in country, this is the first that has suspended in person voting.

Furey, currently does not hold a seat in the legislature but early polling indicates he will easily carry the Ball’s former riding of Humber-Gros Morne.

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