Clair Rankin, Richmond County’s returning officer, spoke with Civic Journalist Jake Boudrot to share important details about where and when voters can cast their ballots before and on election day.

Due to changes in all municipal districts, as mandated by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board’s decision on Oct. 4, 2023, this election will see some shifts in polling locations. Rankin outlined the updated polling districts for Richmond County voters.

Advance polls are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12, and Tuesday, Oct. 15, and will be held at two locations: Our Lady of Assumption Parish Hall, 2316 Highway 206 in Arichat, and the Bonnie Brae Seniors Club, 14 Toulouse Street in St. Peter’s. Both locations will be open from 12 noon to 8 p.m.

On election day, voters in West Arichat and up to Janvrins Island will cast their ballots at the former Immaculate Conception Church and Pastoral Care Centre. This is a change from previous years when voting took place at the Acadiaville Community Centre.

While the advance poll for Arichat is held at the parish hall, on election day voters in Arichat will be heading to the New Horizons Senior’s Club. In St. Peter’s, the advance poll will take place at the Bonnie Brae Senior’s Club, but on election day, voters will need to go to the Lion’s Hall.

For District 1, which includes Little Anse, Alderney Point, Boudreauville, Petit de Grat, and part of Arichat, polling stations will be located at the Little Anse Social Action Hall, the Petit de Grat Parish Hall, and the New Horizons Seniors Club Hall in Arichat.

In District 2, which covers the remainder of Arichat, West Arichat, Port Royal, St. Mary’s, Janvrins Island, Martinique, Poulamon, D’Escousse, Poirierville, Cap La Ronde, Rocky Bay, and Pondville, voters will have the option of several polling locations: St. Anne Community and Nursing Care Centre in Arichat (for residents only), the Pastoral Centre in West Arichat (the former church), Janvrins Island Community Hall, the D’Escousse Civic Improvement Centre, and the Rocky Bay Irish Club Hall.

In District 4, polling stations will be set up at the Tara Lynne Centre in River Bourgeois, the St. Peter’s Lion’s Hall, the Lakeside Community Centre in Sampsonville, St. George’s Channel Community Hall, and Richmond Villa in St. Peter’s (for residents only).

In the District 1 race, incumbent Shawn Samson, first elected in 2020, will face off against former Richmond Warden and long-time councillor James Goyetche.

In District 2, incumbent Michael Diggdon, also elected in 2020, will compete against retired educator Lois Landry.

District 3, covering Louisdale, Grand Anse, Dundee, Lower River, Whiteside, and Cleveland, saw former Warden and councillor Brian Marchand acclaimed without opposition.

Richmond Warden Amanda Mombourquette will be facing a challenge from former councillor Gilbert Boucher in District 4, which includes River Bourgeois, River Tillard, St. Peter’s, and Sampsonville.

In District 5, which encompasses L’Ardoise, Lower L’Ardoise, Point Michaud, Grand River, and Johnstown, incumbent Brent Sampson, first elected in 2020, was also acclaimed.

Additionally, the Richmond County representative on the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial, Blair Samson of Petit de Grat, was acclaimed.

Election day is set for Saturday, Oct. 19, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.