The dates have been set for the province’s Supreme Court to hear arguments challenging the legitimacy of the recent election.

The NDP is leading the case that calls into question how ElectionsNL applied the Elections Act, and seeks to have the results in the district of St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi thrown out and a new vote election ordered.

NDP Leader Alison Coffin lost the seat by 53 votes.

The NDP argues the election was “mired in voter suppression and unequal access to the vote,” among other concerns. They say if a more fair election process had unfolded, the outcome “could have been materially different.”

“The process went from show up with ID on polling day to constantly try and register on a website that crashes, or try a call centre not in the province that had little to no power to truly help get a ballot to a voter,” said NDP Party president Kyle Rees. “This election was a failed election; we know it, the Premier knows it, and we’re going to work hard to ensure that the people of this province see the evidence that shows it.”

While the challenge is specific to a few districts, lawyers have said the outcome could have implications for the entire election.

Former PC MHA Jim Lester is also challenging the results in St. John’s North while Sheila Fitzgerald has filed papers after her loss in St. Barbe-L’Anse aux Meadows.

The case is set down for three weeks, but not until February 21 of next year.