You can vote if you:

• Are a Canadian citizen
• Are 18 years of age or older
• Live in St. John’s as your main home for at least 30 days before election day

Ward by-elections: You must live in the ward where the election is taking place.

Your residence is where you normally live and sleep, and where you return to after being away. You can only have one place of residence.

In a general municipal election, eligible voters can vote for:

• Mayor (city-wide)
• Deputy Mayor (city-wide)
• Your Ward Councillor
• 4 Councillors-at-Large

By-elections:
You will only vote for the position being filled.

Check out the Ward Look Up and enter your civic address to determine the ward you live in. You can also call Access St. John's at 311 or 754-CITY (2489) for assistance.

The City uses a vote-by-mail system. 

Prior to election day, each voter on the voter's list receives a vote-by-mail kit. Simply follow the voting instructions provided in the kit.

• Complete the ballot and insert into the ballot secrecy envelope.
• Complete the declaration form.
• Insert the sealed ballot secrecy envelope and the declaration form into the yellow election return envelope.
• Mail the sealed election return envelope by the date indicated on the voting instructions page.

Voters can also vote in-person on election day.

The City relies on the permanent list of electors provided by Elections NL. If you have recently moved and/or reached the voting age of 18, you may not be on the voters list. To determine if you are on the list and/or to register if you are not, the City uses a voter look-up/registration portal during an election. 

If you haven’t received your kit:

• Contact Access St. John’s
• Kits are mailed until one week before election day
• After that, you will need to pick one up or vote in person. Acceptable identification will be required to vote in-person. 

You may drop off your completed declaration and ballot at the drop box in front of City Hall 24 hours a day, 7 days a week up to 8 p.m. on election day. You may also drop off your declaration and ballot at a voting centre in your ward on election day between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. 

Eligible voters can drop off or cast their ballots at a voting centre on election day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you plan to register at an election centre, you must go to the centre in your own ward and bring acceptable identification.

The following are lists of acceptable identification to register as a voter or use a satellite voting station:

1. Submit one piece of ID which displays both your name, address and date of birth such as a valid driver's license or government-issued ID.
2. Submit two pieces of ID which together show your name, address and date of birth:

• • Bank statement
  • Birth certificate
  • Blood Donor Card
  • Canadian Passport
  • Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
  • Credit Card/Debit Card
  • Government Issued Payment Stub
  • Health Card/MCP
  • Identity Bracelet Issued by a hospital or long-term care facility
  • Income Tax Assessment
  • Letter of Confirmation of Residence from a communal or commercial residence manager, operator or owner
  • Library Card
  • Mortgage/Lease or Tenant Agreement
  • Prescription Label
  • Property Tax Assessment
  • Public Transportation Card
  • Social Insurance Number Card
  • Student Identity Card
  • Utility Bill
  • Vehicle registration, insurance certificate or policy

Visit City Hall up until the Monday immediately before the election or a satellite drop-off centre on the day of the election to complete an affidavit swearing or affirming your identity and place of residence. Once the form is signed and witnessed by an official, you will receive a vote-by-mail kit to cast your vote.

• Form: Affidavit: Voters Without Identification 

No. All returned secrecy envelopes containing ballots will be stored in a secured area until election day. Ballots are counted starting at 8 p.m. on election day.

Yes. The process for sorting and storing the vote-by-mail election return envelopes has security features that will protect the secrecy of your vote. As vote by mail returns are received by the city, elections staff immediately separate the voter declaration form (VDF) from the sealed secrecy ballot envelope. The VDF is scanned and registers the elector as having voted. The secrecy ballot envelope remains sealed until election day and is secured with restricted access. The Election Coordinator is the keyholder to the restricted access storage.