Residents of many municipalities across the province are heading to the polls today to vote for their next town or city council.

Polling stations are set up in all municipalities today, while ten municipalities—including St. John’s— also have a vote-by-mail system in place,

There are a couple of notable exceptions.

COVID has forced the postponement of a couple of municipal elections in Central Newfoundland. The election in Cottlesville and Summerford will now take place in those towns on Tuesday, October 5 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The vote for mayor will go ahead in Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove but a second call for nominations will be made for the remainder of council, where one person came forward. Incumbent Brian Roche was acclaimed while the old council will stay in place until another call for nominations is made.

Meanwhile, the Department of Municipal Affairs has deferred the municipal election for two months in Kippens following harassment complaints.

St. John’s meanwhile is accepting drop off ballots at a number of satellite drop off locations throughout the city from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

VOCM’s Municipal election coverage begins at 8 p.m. island time tonight.

Polling stations are located at:

– All Saints Church Hall, 44 Clarence St.
– St. John the Evangelist Church, 23 Main Street
– Corner Brook Civic Centre
– St. Michael’s Church Hall, 5 Park Drive
– St. Mary’s Church Hall, 456 Curling Streethttps://t.co/VTfEnj7BTp pic.twitter.com/wJmSLZs1Jv

— Corner Brook (@CornerBrook) September 28, 2021

The CEO of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador is urging people who can get out to vote to cast their ballots for their next municipal council.

Craig Pollett says residents have the power to decide the direction in which to take their town or city into the next four years and beyond.

In the meantime, Pollett is pleased with the overall level of participation in this year’s municipal elections.

Today is municipal election voting day! Be sure to cast your vote before the polls close at 8 p.m. Contact your municipal office if you're not sure where to vote.

— MNL (@MunicipalNL) September 28, 2021

After years of trending downwards, there has been an overall increase of 2.8 per cent in municipal nominations, with an increase in the number of people who identify as female, 39 per cent, up from 33 per cent in 2017.

While most nominations were in the 46 to 54 age range, 142 nominations received are in people between the ages of 18 and 35.