There has been plenty of reaction to recent comments made by NDP Leader Alison Coffin, who suggested that voters in districts with no NDP candidate spoil their ballot.

Memorial University political scientist Amanda Bittner says while voters have always had the right to spoil their ballots, asking people to do so when you don’t have candidates in all districts is a different approach.

Bittner says the party has not done a good job at fielding candidates, and to suggest people spoil their ballot when people don’t have the option through no fault of their own is unusual.

In a statement to VOCM News, Alison Coffin said the party would have liked to offer a full slate, but many of their potential candidates were not able to “drop their lives on a moment’s notice” when Liberals decided to call the spring election.

Coffin says she’s heard from many across the province who are frustrated with what she calls the assault on democracy, and they want to show the Liberal government how upset they are.

She says the best way to do that is to elect as many NDP candidates as possible, and those who do not have that choice to protest at the ballot box.