Process for Breaking the Tie in District 8

Posted on:
October 21, 2024

As two candidates have received an equal number of votes, legislation states that I must make an application for a Recount to the Nova Scotia provincial court. This application will take place after the results are made official on Tuesday Oct 22, 2024. Notice will be given to the candidates.

The judge will either go through the particulars of the recount process or dismiss the case on the basis that either “the application is frivolous or vexatious” or “it would not be in the interest of justice to conduct the recount”.

If the judge finds that there remains a tie after the recount procedure, or if the case is dismissed, the selection of the winner is made by picking a name from a hat.

For those who are interested the Municipal Elections Act is at Municipal Elections Act (nslegislature.ca). Sections 130 to 138 detail the recount process.

If this was to happen in a Nova Scotia Provincial election, the process would be the exact same.

Blair Gallop

Returning Officer