BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Your Data Your Rights
Provincial and Territorial Elections
General Information
Most of the provinces and territories have very similar legal frameworks surrounding elections. While all provinces and territories gather your personal information in the process of carrying out their elections, the information they collect and the way they handle it can vary from province to province. So, too, can the process of accessing or removing your personal information from their databases.
To understand what pieces of your personal information your provincial or territorial government has, how it’s used, and how you can control it, it’s important to understand the typical structure governments use to collect your information.
Specific details for each Canadian Province and Territory : Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Yukon
Nova Scotia
The List of Electors
Elections Nova Scotia records your personal information in its register of electors when you register to vote. The register contains the following personal information:
- Name
- Address
- Contact information
- Birth date
- Unique identifier
- An indication of whether the elector voted in previous elections
[Section 42(2)(a), 42(2)(e)]
It’s supplemented by information from other sources like:
- Registry of Motor Vehicles
- Vital Statistics
- Nova Scotia Civic Address File
- Elections Canada
(NS Voters List) [s. 43(3)(e)]
Your personal information from the register of electors is shared with each independent member of the House of Assembly and with registered political parties, but it must be used strictly for electoral purposes [s. 44].
Immediately after an election is called, a list of electors is developed for each electoral district with information from the register. These lists are distributed to registered political parties, independent elected members of electoral districts, and members of the House of Assembly [ss. 59 (1), 59 (3), 59 (4)].
Controlling your Personal Information
You are entitled to access your own information within the register of electors. To exercise this right, call Elections Nova Scotia at 1-866-774-7074. You will need to provide personal information to verify your identity.
To have your name and information removed from the list of electors, you may apply in person, orally, or in writing. A person may also do so on your behalf (with satisfactory proof of your identity) if your information in the list is incorrect or if you no longer reside in the province [s. 55(3)].
Sources
- Elections Act, SNS 2011, c 5.
- Elections Nova Scotia Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How Do I Get on the Nova Scotia Election Voters List?
These pages were last updated and reviewed in the summer of 2024.
The information on these pages only contains general information and guidance; none of the information constitutes legal advice. If you have a specific issue that you believe is a legal problem, the best practice is to consult a lawyer.
The information is non-partisan, dynamic and ever changing. It is the result of FIPA’s research and public education programs.
If you note something that needs to be added, corrected, or removed, please contact us by email: fipa AT fipa.bc.ca.
