Kent byelection draws 1,400 early voters

Elections New Brunswick is reporting a strong turnout in advance voting and special ballots ahead of Mondays byelection in the eastern riding of Kent.

Mike Quinn, the provinces chief electoral officer, said more than 1,300 people have voted in the advance polls and 109 people have voted at the local returning office.

The chief electoral officer also said some vacationers wanted a chance to vote in Mondays byelection.

"We had six people who have requested special ballots to be sent to Florida where they're vacationing and we've received two of those back and so hopefully we'll get the other four back," he said.

There are about 8,800 people registered to vote in the Kent byelection.

The number of voters turning up at the advance polls in Kent is higher than the number who turned out in Rothesay last year.

Elections New Brunswick reported 846 people voted early in the2012 byelection, which saw Progressive Conservative MLA Ted Flemming hold the long-time Tory seat.

The byelection was called when former Liberal premier Shawn Graham resigned his seat after he was found to be in conflict of interest over his handling of the Atcon file.

Liberal Leader Brian Gallant is running in the riding and is up against Progressive Conservative Jimmy Bourque and NDP candidate Susan Levi-Peters.

Kent is considered a Liberal stronghold. Graham won the seat in a 1998 byelection following his father Alan's retirement, which ended his political career that started in the riding in 1967.

The Progressive Conservatives have 41 seats in the legislature, the Liberals have 12 MLAs and there is one independent.