18 months of work readies Elections NB for provincial election

The job of getting 49 electoral districts and a satellite office across New Brunswick ready for the Sept. 24 provincial election began Tuesday as tractor trailers were loaded with everything a returning office would need.

More than 5,000 people will be employed during the election

CBC News Posted: Aug 08, 2018 5:30 AM EDT | Last Updated: August 8, 2018

Elections New Brunswick began shipping out supplies to 49 returning offices and one satellite office across the province. (Jon Collicott/CBC)

The job of getting49 electoral districts and a satellite office across New Brunswick ready forthe Sept. 24 provincial election began Tuesday as tractor trailers were loaded with everything a returning office would need.

"It's moving day at Elections New Brunswick," said Chief Electoral Officer KimberlyPoffenroth.

Palletscontain everything from paper clips,pens,laptops and printers. Morewere loaded and to be sent tothe returning offices that will open Aug. 23.

"Everything they'll need to administer the election in theiroffices so they'll be open to the public when we anticipate the writs being issued," said Poffenroth.

Polling station material will be sent out later in the week.

How long does it take to pack for a provincial election?Poffenrothsaid things got started in April 2017.

New Brunswick's Chief Electoral Officer, Kimberly Poffenroth, said having a fixed election date allows for time to prepare well in advance. (Jon Collicott/CBC)

"We've been working on it ever since, preparing training materials for the polling officials and the workers in the returning offices, ordering all the supplies."

Poffenrothsaid it takes the better part of 18 months to be ready for the election.

More than 4,500 people will work at the advance polls and on election day and hiring for those jobs will take place as soon as the returning offices are open.

Materials for 49 returning offices are being shipped out in preparation for the opening of the offices on Aug. 23. (Jon Collicott/CBC)

"The returning officers are responsible for hiring those individuals and they'll be trained later in September," said the elections official.

There are between 200 and 300 people working at the returning officesPoffenrothadded.

"Their training was done in the month of July for returning officers, election clerks, trainingofficers as well as technical support workers."

Poffenrothsaid the tabulation machines will only be shipped out after nominations have closed and the ballots have been printed.

Having a fixed election date makes things much easier and allows for a lot of lead time, she added.

"It gives us lots of time for preparation and a smooth running election."

With files from Jon Collicott

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