BILL NO. 1

(as introduced)

1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
70 Elizabeth II, 2021

 

Government Bill

 

Elections Act
(amended)

 

The Honourable Tim Houston
Premier

First Reading: October 13, 2021

(Explanatory Notes)

Second Reading: October 14, 2021

Third Reading: October 29, 2021 (LINK TO BILL AS PASSED)

Explanatory Note

This Bill provides for fixed general election dates.

An Act to Amend Chapter 5
of the Acts of 2011,
the Elections Act

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 Chapter 5 of the Acts of 2011, the Elections Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 29 the following Section:

29A (1) Nothing in this Section affects the powers of the Lieutenant Governor, including the power to dissolve the House of Assembly at the discretion of the Lieutenant Governor.

(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), and the powers of the Lieutenant Governor referred to in subsection (1), notwithstanding any other enactment, each general election must be held on the third Tuesday in July, in the fourth calendar year following election day for the most recent general election.

(3) Where the Chief Electoral Officer is of the opinion that a Tuesday that would otherwise be election day is not suitable for that purpose, including by reason of it being in conflict with a day of cultural or religious significance or a federal or municipal election, the Chief Electoral Officer shall choose another day in accordance with subsection (4) and recommend to the Governor in Council that election day be that other day, and the Governor in Council may make an order to that effect.

(4) For the purpose of subsection (3), the Chief Electoral Officer may, notwithstanding clause 29(b), choose as an alternative ordinary election day one of the seven days following the Tuesday that would otherwise be election day.

(5) In the case of a general election under subsection (2), an order may not be made under subsection (3) within seventy days preceding the Tuesday that would otherwise be election day.

2 For greater certainty, the next general election held pursuant to the Elections Act must, subject to Section 29A of the Elections Act, be held on July 15, 2025.

 

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