Chief Electoral Officer

Nova Scotia’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) is Christine McCulloch.

Ms. McCulloch was appointed to this position in January 2005 after holding the position of acting Chief Electoral Officer between December 2003 and August 2004.

Prior to becoming our province’s CEO, Ms. McCulloch was a director of legal services in the Nova Scotia Department of Justice.

The CEO administers provincial elections and by-elections and keeps voters and candidates aware of their rights and responsibilities. It is the CEO’s responsibility to ensure that election officers act with fairness and impartiality, and in compliance with election laws (Elections Act, House of Assembly Act, Members and Public Employees Disclosure Act). The CEO also receives annual statements from all recognized parties and their associations, regarding the political contributions they received and the tax receipts they issued, and administers plebiscites under the Liquor Control Act.

During an election (or by-election), the Chief Electoral Officer has specific powers to:

extend the time for completing various tasks under the legislation; however, the CEO cannot extend the time for accepting nominations or the times for the opening and closing of the advance or ordinary polls
prescribe forms and modify forms to suit existing circumstances
remove from office any election officer who is not performing the duties of office satisfactorily, or who is showing a preference for one party over another
appoint Returning Officers
generally adapt the provisions of the Elections Act to fit the circumstances