The date for the second day of the advance poll in conjunction with the upcoming provincial general election will be changed. Normally the advance polls for a general election are held on Saturday, the 9th day prior to election day and on Monday the 7th day prior to election day.
In the case of the November 18 provincial general election, the advance polling days, pursuant to subsection 82(3) of the Prince Edward Island Election Act should be held on Saturday, November 9 and on Monday, November 11, 1996.
M. H. Wigginton, Chief Electoral Officer of Prince Edward Island announced today that since November 11 is Remembrance Day and a holiday, the second day of the advance poll will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 1996 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time.
In announcing the change Mr. Wigginton said; "the Prince Edward Island Interpretation Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap I-8 states in subsection 23(2), where the time for doing an act falls or expires on a holiday, the time is extended to the next day that is not a holiday. Therefore the advance poll for the November 18 election will be held on Tuesday, November 12."
Mr. Wigginton went on to say; "the change of date for the holding of the advance poll will ensure the polling will not interfere or be in conflict with the celebration and solemnity of Remembrance Day."
The Prince Edward Island Election Act, 1996, Cap.12 does not allow the Chief Electoral Officer to change the date of Ordinary Polling Day (election day), Nomination Day or the hours during which the polls are open for the advance polls and election day, but the Chief Electoral Officer may make any other changes he deems necessary for the efficient conducting of an election in the province.
Persons who will not be able to cast their votes in their electoral districts on Election Day, Monday, November 18, are reminded to vote at the advance poll in their electoral district. A list of the locations of the advance polls will be published in the province's newspapers in the near future.
Further information concerning the provincial general election may be obtained by contacting Elections P.E.I., 180 Richmond Street, 2nd Floor, P. O. Box 2000, Charlottetown, P.E.I. C1A 7N8. Telephone (902) 368-5895, toll free at 1-888-234-VOTE (8683), Fax number (902) 368-6500, or on the World Wide Web at http://www.gov.pe.ca/election/.
Contact: M H Wigginton, Chief Electoral Officer at 902-368-5895