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Provincial election set for Aug. 17

TINA COMEAU STUART PEDDLE TRI-COUNTY VANGUARD

And a summer election it is. Nova Scotia's 41st general election will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 17.

This time around things will be different for voters in southwestern Nova Scotia as riding boundaries have changed since the last provincial vote. The changes have been brought on by the return of the Acadian ridings in Argyle and Clare.

In the last election the ridings in the tri-counties were Yarmouth, Argyle-Barrington, Queens-Shelburne and Clare-Digby.

This time they've returned to Yarmouth, Argyle, Shelburne, Clare and DigbyAnnapolis.

The election campaign got underway this past Saturday morning when Liberal leader and premier Iain Rankin visited Lt.-Gov. Arthur J. LeBlanc, asking him to dissolve the legislature and start a summer election campaign.

Although by then it already felt like an election was underway.

“I guess this is the worst kept secret in the province,” Rankin told the gathered media when he left the lieutenant governor's residence.

Elections Nova Scotia says there will be many options to vote safely in this provincial general election. Voters in Nova Scotia can apply online to vote by mail using a write-in ballot, or vote safely in-person at returning offices, early voting locations, and on election day.

“Strict COVID-19 protocols will be in place at all in-person voting locations. Voters are asked to wear a mask, sanitize their hands, maintain physical distance and bring their own pen,” says Elections Nova Scotia.

“Prior to election day, voters in Nova Scotia can vote at any returning office or early voting location in the province. On election day, voters may vote at their assigned voting location or the returning office in their electoral district.”

Elections Nova Scotia is also looking for dedicated workers to facilitate voting and ensure safe cleaning protocols are enforced at all voting locations. People 18 years and older who would like to work the provincial election are asked to contact the retuning office in their electoral district.

One thing that is already sprouting up is election signs. In the Town of Yarmouth, election signs became an issue themselves last year.

In 2020, the town of Yarmouth approved an election sign bylaw that banned the outdoor/lawn display of municipal, provincial and federal election signs within the town, although town residents could still indicate their preference for a candidate or political party with a display in the window of their home.

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2021-07-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-07-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

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