Returning Officers

Nova Scotia is divided into 52 electoral districts – each one with its own Returning Officer. Our two largest electoral districts, Inverness and Guysborough–Sheet Harbour, also have satellite returning offices and their own Assistant Returning Officer.

To be a Returning Officer is to accept a huge responsibility. You are at the heart of the election in your district and must conduct the election according to the standards of the Chief Electoral Officer and the Elections Act.

If you were a Returning Officer, your duties would include:

appointing and training the election staff for your district, including an Election Clerk, Revision Assistant, and Poll Officials
leasing, equipping, furnishing, and managing a returning office
keeping the List of Electors for each polling division in your electoral district up to date and available, as well as revising it during and between elections
maintaining good public relations by answering questions and providing information to electors, candidates, and the media
undertaking projects between elections as directed by the Chief Electoral Officer

You could be removed from the office at any time if you:

no longer reside in your electoral district
are not able to act during an election
have failed to perform your duties satisfactorily
are no longer seen to be neutral politically

How Do You Get the Job?

Returning Officers are appointed by Cabinet Order in Council and this appointment continues from one election to the next, usually for a period of ten years.

If there is a vacancy for a Returning Officer and Elections Nova Scotia can’t wait for Cabinet to appoint one (because an election has just been called or is imminent, for example), the Chief Electoral Officer can appoint one. This appointment will continue until Cabinet appoints a replacement Returning Officer.

Would you like to be a Returning Officer? Click here.