News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – New Brunswickers will be going to the polls to elect local council, regional health authority and district education council representatives on May 10, 2021.

The elections had been scheduled for May 2020 but were postponed due to the global pandemic.

“We appreciate the commitment and dedication of our local elected representatives who have had their terms extended due to COVID-19,” said Local Government and Local Governance Reform Minister Daniel Allain. “It is important that we re-establish the intended four-year election cycle and provide the assurance of a set time for those who continue to serve. We did not want to interrupt the municipal budget cycle that local governments have started and need to complete in the coming weeks.”

The election period is almost 60 days, which means candidates can start campaigning in March. One reason the elections were scheduled in May was to avoid having returning office employees and candidates travelling in the winter months.

Measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to keep voters safe need to be in place next year. Lessons learned from the provincial election in September will be used to modify these processes.

Extra time is also needed to train workers on new technology being rolled out for this election that will further modernize voting procedures in the province.

“Elections New Brunswick intends to introduce workers, voters and candidates to a poll pad-based system that will replace many of the paper-based procedures currently used at polling stations and returning offices during elections that we administer,” said Municipal Electoral Officer Kim Poffenroth.

Local government, school and health authority information is available online.