(March 24, 2021) – Rhonda Simms, PC Candidate for Lewisporte-Twilingate, is concerned about reports suggesting an elector in Lewisporte-Twilingate district was allowed to vote via telephone in the 2021 General Election.

Simms says she spoke with the voter in question on Tuesday, who detailed a weeks-long effort to obtain his ballot from Elections NL, which he applied for on February 12. After multiple phone calls, the man was told to wait for a phone call from Elections NL where he was told he would be allowed to vote over the telephone, which he did later on Tuesday.

“This situation raises so many questions about this election. It’s deeply disturbing,” said Simms. “Why is there special treatment being given to some individuals, while others have been denied the right to cast a ballot during this reckless pandemic election?” said Simms.

Simms doesn’t blame electors for voting by phone if given the options but says Elections NL is wrong to permit such sketchy practices.

The PC Party of Newfoundland and Labrador issued a letter to Chief Electoral Officer Bruce Chaulk on the matter also on Tuesday. A reply has not yet been received.

PC Leader Ches Crosbie is very concerned about the news and says it further calls into question the integrity of the election.

“This election has already been marred been marred by repeated acts of voter suppression. Seniors, Indigenous populations, and those in rural areas of our province have faced undue difficulty in accessing their ballot, as our party and candidates have heard throughout the election campaign,” said Crosbie.

“Elections NL needs to explain why some electors have been permitted to vote over the telephone and others have been denied the disenfranchised entirely.”

Crosbie is calling on Premier Andrew Furey to join his call for transparency.

Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Communications

(p) (709) 769-2216

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