Chief Electoral Officer Bruce Chaulk delivered a report on the provincial election to the House of Assembly yesterday. It details the pivoting required to finally get it done and over with.

Chaulk declares off the top that Elections NL was reasonably ready for safe, in-person voting on February 13, the original Election Day.

They’d secured extra resources for special ballot voting, hired more staff, and had all the PPE they needed.

And then the UK variant struck.

Chaulk says he had no control over staff refusing to work the polls on voting day, and no control over owners who wouldn’t rent the space to cast ballots. He also says he was limited by the legislation, but in the end, determined the mail-in ballot was the safest and most efficient way forward.

While not ideal, Chaulk states it ensured the protection and safety of the electorate and Election NL workers. While there was criticism around limits on scrutineers, the report notes a virtual portal was set up for them to view the entire room and see any ballots or envelopes that were being rejected.

The report details how Elections NL had to adapt sections of the act in order to pivot, including applying for mail-out ballots by phone, which Chaulk says was in line with the Act and an acceptable method. However, there’s no mention of other methods he employed, such as personal drop-offs or voting by phone.

The office of the Chief Electoral Officer says “There will be a report on the General Election within 9 months of the election, as required by the Act.”