For Voters

Who is eligible to vote?

You are eligible to vote if you are:

• a Canadian citizen
• 18 years of age or older
• ordinarily reside in the City of St. John's for 30 days preceding election day
• For a Ward by-election, residents must ordinarily reside within the Ward the election is taking place. 

What do you mean by “ordinarily reside”?

Section 24 of the Municipal Elections Act defines your ordinary place of residence:

• 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.
• Residency is not lost by a person who leaves that residence for temporary purposes only.
• 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.

• Complete the ballot and insert into the ballot secrecy envelope.
• Complete the declaration form.
• Insert the sealed ballot secrecy envelope and the declaration form into the yellow election return envelope.
• Mail the sealed election return envelope by the date indicated on the voting instructions page.

Am I on the Voters List?

The City relies on the permanent list of electors provided by Elections NL. If you have recently moved and/or reached the voting age of 18, you may not be on the voters list. To determine if you are on the list and/or to register if you are not, the City uses a voter look-up/registration portal during an election. 

Residents eligible to vote in an election or by-election that require assistance in registering to vote or checking their status on the list can contact or visit the Access Centre or email the Elections Coordinator at election@stjohns.ca. 

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 is 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.

Learn more about accessibility and elections.

Can I still vote on election day at a satellite drop-off centre?

Yes, but voters are encouraged to vote by mail or drop off completed ballots at the drop box located outside City Hall.  Eligible voters may cast their ballots at a satellite drop-off centre in their ward from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters who intend to register to vote at a satellite drop-off centre must have acceptable identification available.

What is considered ‘acceptable identification?'

The following are lists of acceptable identification to register as a voter or use a satellite voting station:

1. Submit one piece of ID which displays both your name and address such as a valid driver's license or government-issued ID
2. Submit two pieces of ID which together show your name and address:
   • Bank statement
   • Birth certificate
   • Blood Donor Card
   • Canadian Passport
   • Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
   • Credit Card/Debit Card
   • Government Issued Payment Stub
   • Health Card/MCP
   • Identity Bracelet Issued by a hospital or long-term care facility
   • Income Tax Assessment
   • Letter of Confirmation of Residence from a communal or commercial residence manager, operator or owner
   • Library Card
   • Mortgage/Lease or Tenant Agreement
   • Prescription Label
   • Property Tax Assessment
   • Public Transportation Card
   • Social Insurance Number Card
   • Student Identity Card
   • Utility Bill
   • Vehicle registration, insurance certificate or policy

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.

• Form: Affidavit: Voters Without Identification 

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 two weeks before election day, you should:

• Call or visit Access St. John's. Kits will continue to be mailed out until one week before the election to allow time for mail return. After this date, kits must be picked up in person by those with acceptable identification; or
• On election day, visit a satellite drop-off centre with acceptable identification to obtain a kit to vote.

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 Wednesday before election day. Please note that 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 centre in your ward on election day between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. 

When will official results of the election be released?

Election results will be released at City Hall and on this website as they become available any time after 8 p.m. on election day.