Towns and cities which have a mail-in component to their elections are confident that they will be able to have a proper election despite the postal strike.

Contingency plans have been enacted to overcome the dispute at the mail service, but it means a lot of extra work for staff.

Eight municipalities have voting through the mail, but deadlines to drop the ballots into mailboxes in most situations was on or near the day the strike began, which means many are stuck in the system and unlikely to be freed up by voting day, Thursday.

Alexa Oldford, the returning officer for the town, says they were given the option of delaying the vote but she did not think that to be necessary as they know precisely who received a mail-in ballot and whether it has been returned to town hall.

In Mount Pearl, people who still have their ballot can drop it at City Hall by 8:00 Thursday, or bring it to any polling station on election day. Returning officer Janice Mullins says anyone whose ballot is stuck in the mail system can vote at their designated polling station, or contact the city to access the mobile voting option. Gander, and others, also have that option available.

Others who have vote by mail elections are St. John’s, Corner Brook, Portugal Cove-St. Philips, Paradise, Pasadena and Conception Bay South.