The candidate who lost twice by 1 vote, and other facts from elections past

With the Nova Scotia election nearing, here are five surprising facts about elections from years gone by.

What's up with Tuesdays?

Of the 40 general elections (including this one)held in Nova Scotia since 1867, 30of them have been on a Tuesday. An election has never been held on a Friday,Saturday or Sunday.

How a candidate lost twice by1 vote

Tory Ernest M. Ettingerwas elected MLA for East Hants in three elections, but it's the two others helost that are the mostmemorable.

After winning in 1949, he ran again inthe May 26, 1953, general election butlost to Liberal Alfred Edward Reid by one vote2,251 to 2,250.

According to anarticle in the Montreal Gazette, the result was made void by a court, rendering the seat vacant.

On Nov. 14, 1954,a special election was held in the riding, but it ended in a tie. The deciding ballot was cast by the returning officer, who voted for Reid, giving him a one-vote victory.

After a recount was held, Reid lost three votes, but Ettinger lost four, so Reid remained the winner.

The Gazette said Ettinger"gladly"accepted the results. "The people of Hants East have had enough elections for a while,"he said.

Luckily for Ettinger, Reid didn't run in the 1956general election. Ettinger won that year and again in 1960.

Ettinger died on May 29, 1962, while in office. His son, Albert James Ettinger, ended up winning the seat in theAug. 27, 1962,byelection by 77 votes over the Liberal candidate, Gerald Augustine Regan.

Reganwent on to become premier in 1970.

Fewest votes needed to win a seat

The fewest votes needed to win a seat in a general electionsince Nova Scotia abandoned dual-member ridings in 1981 was 1,411 by Liberal KeithColwellin 2003. Hewon the riding of Preston by 50 votes over PC candidate David Hendsbee,the current Halifax municipal councillor for Preston-Chezzetcook-Eastern Shore.

Late election

The month of December conjures up images of snow, cold weather and Christmas, not politics. But in 1876, NovaScotianswent to the polls on Dec. 17.

On the flip side, the earliest in the year a general election has been held isMarch. Both the 1894 and 1998 general elections were held in the third month of the year.

More than 1 MLA per riding

Up until 1981, Nova Scotia had some ridings that were known asdual-member ridings. In these ridings, voters selectedtwocandidates to represent their riding.

The last of these ridings wereInverness (which became Inverness North and Inverness South) andYarmouth(which wasdivided intoYarmouthand Argyle).