Online and telephone voting opens today for Halifax Regional Municipality election

Municipalities across Nova Scotia are gearing up for the upcoming fall elections.

Every four years, the general election in the province is held on the third Saturday in October, meaning the next one is set for Oct. 19.

For residents of the Halifax Regional Municipality, advance online and telephone voting opens today, Oct. 8, at 8 a.m. and runs untilOct. 16 at 7 p.m. Information on how to vote online or by phone wasmailedto residents on the list of electors during the first week of October.

Residents need their unique PIN in the mailed letter in order to vote online or by phone.

Those who didn't receive a letter can contact the voter helpline for assistanceat 902-490-VOTE or 1-844-301-VOTE.

Advance in-person voting in the Halifax area will take place from Oct. 12 and Oct. 15 between noon and 8 p.m.Voters can find out where they can cast their ballot by entering their address here.

While candidates continue their campaigns ahead of voting day, here are answers to some of the questions voters might have.

Who is eligible to vote in municipal elections?

Rules for voter eligibility are laid out in the Municipal Elections Act and are the same across the province. Section 14 of the act states that to be eligible to vote:

• You must be 18 years old.
• A Canadian citizen on the first advance polling day.
• A resident of Nova Scotia and the municipality you're voting infor at least six months prior to the first advance polling day.

How do I vote in the municipal elections?

Voting methodsare set by each municipality individually and can includein-person by print ballot, telephone, mail, and online. Residents can check with their local municipality for more information on how to vote.Here are how the province's municipalities and towns are allowing people to vote:

Regional municipalities

Cape Breton For advancevoting:telephone/online.On election day:in-person.
Halifax For advancevoting:telephone/online/in-person. On election day: in-person.
QueensFor advance voting:telephone/online/in-person.On election day:telephone/online/in-person.
West Hants For advance voting: telephone/online/in-person.On election day:telephone/online/in-person.

County municipalities

Annapolis For advance voting: telephone/online.On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Antigonish For advance voting: in-person.On election day: in-person.
Colchester For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day:telephone/online/in-person.
Cumberland For advance voting:telephone/online. On election day:telephone/online/in-person.
Inverness For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Kings For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Pictou For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Richmond For advance voting: in-person. On election day:in-person.
Victoria For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).

District municipalities

Argyle For advance voting: telephone/online/in-person. On election day: in-person.
Barrington For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: in-person.
Chester For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Clare For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: in-person.
Digby For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
East Hants For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Guysborough For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Lunenburg For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Shelburne For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
St. Mary's For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Yarmouth For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: in-person.

Towns

Amherst For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Annapolis Royal For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Antigonish For advance voting: telephone/online/in-person. On election day: telephone/online/in-person.
Berwick For advance voting: telephone/online/in-person. On election day: telephone/online/in-person.
Bridgewater For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Clark's Harbour For advance voting: in-person. On election day: in-person.
Digby For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Kentville For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: in-person.
Lockeport For advance voting: in-person. On election day: in-person.
Lunenburg For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Mahone Bay For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Middleton For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only)
Mulgrave No voting in Mulgrave this year. Mayor and four councilors acclaimed.
New Glasgow For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Oxford For advance voting: telephone/online/in-person. On election day: telephone/online/in-person.
Pictou For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Port Hawkesbury For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Shelburne For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Stellarton For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Stewiacke For advance voting: telephone/online/in-person. On election day: telephone/online/in-person.
Trenton For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Truro For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Westville For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Wolfville For advance voting: telephone/online. On election day: telephone/online (electronic only).
Yarmouth For advance voting: telephone/online/in-person. On election day: telephone/online/in-person.