Frequently Asked Questions

The following is a list of questions frequently asked of Elections PEI. The information below is general in nature; consult the Election Act and Elections PEI for specific legal information and interpretation.

Who is eligible to vote in a provincial election?

Islanders must meet the following requirements to be qualified to vote in the polling division in which you reside:

• 18 years of age, or will be on ordinary polling day
• a Canadian citizen
• resident in the province for the six months immediately preceding the date of the writ
• place of ordinary residence has been in the polling division on the date of the writ

How can I have my name added to the list of electors?

During the period of confirmation, confirmation officers should visit your residence and collect the registration information from you in person.

If during a confirmation, you were not at home the confirmation officers should leave a notice of call form which lists the name and phone number of the returning officer to call with your registration information.

If during the confirmation period your name was not added to the list of electors, you may call the Returning Officer and have your name added up to the 13th day prior to ordinary polling day.

In the event that your name is not on the final list of electors, you may still cast your ballot on ordinary polling day by appearing at your polling division polling station and swearing an oath of elector.

When will the next election be?

The date for future Provincial General Election is now set by Fixed Election Dates legislation. A general election shall be held on Monday, October 3, 2011, unless a general election has been held, after the date in which this section comes into force and before Monday, October 3, 2011, thereafter, general elections shall be held on the first Monday of October in the fourth calendar year following ordinary polling day in the most recent election.

The legislation governing the period of time for which current Members of the Legislative Assembly may serve as elected Members is contained in the Legislative Assembly Act.

Section 7 of this Act states:

"Subject to being sooner dissolved by Lieutenant Governor, every Legislative Assembly shall continue for five years from the day of the return of the Writs for a general election, and no longer."

If I am working or away from home, where do I go to vote?

According to the qualifications of an elector, an elector must vote in the particular polling division of the electoral district in which he or she is ordinary resident.

An elector is considered to have only one place of ordinary residence, and is defined as:

• if the person is a married person
  • at the place where his or her family lives and sleeps and to which, when away, he or she intends to return, or
  • if he or she is living apart from his or her family with the intent to remain so apart from it, then at the place where he or she lives and sleeps and to which, when away, he or she intends to return, without regard to where he or she takes his or her meals or is employed; and
• if the person is not married, at the place where he or she lives and sleeps the majority of the time.

If I cannot go to the polls on polling day, how can I vote?

There are two options available to assist you in voting if you plan to be away on Polling Day.

The first option is to vote at an Advance Poll in your electoral district. Advance Polls are conducted on Saturday, the 9th day before Polling Day, on Monday, the 7th day before Polling Day and on Friday, the 3rd day before Polling Day. The second option is to vote by a Mail-in Ballot (see next question).

How do I vote by Mail-in Ballot?

Every mail-in ballot elector must have his or her name on the list of electors.

Electors wishing to cast their ballots by mail must complete an Application for Registration form which requires the following elector information: Name, Civic Address, Present mailing address, Telephone Number, Date of Birth, Sex and signature. Also, a copy of an official document showing your name, address, date of birth and signature, such as a driver's license or a combination of two documents providing the same information.

MORE >> Mail-in Ballots

Do I get time off from work to vote?

There are provisions in the Election Act to provide sufficient time for eligible electors to vote on Polling Day.

These provisions are contained in section 81, which states:

• An employee, who is an elector, shall, while the poll is open on ordinary polling day, have a reasonable and sufficient time, not to be less than one hour, for the purpose of casting his or her vote.
• If the employment of an employee does not permit the use of one hour of his or her own time for voting, the employer shall allow the employee such additional time with pay from the hours of his or her employment as may be necessary to provide the one hour, but the additional times for voting shall be granted to the employee at the time of day that best suits the convenience of the employer.