Alternate care level patients

Elections NB is expanding its accessibility tools as municipal elections approach.

Municipal elections are scheduled for May 11.

Communications officer Paul Harpelle said efforts are increasing to make voting more accessible for unhoused people and alternate level-of-care patients.

According to the Human Development Council’s 2025 State of Homelessness report, 493 people were identified as experiencing homelessness for at least one day in 2021 in Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John. By 2025, that number had risen to 1,529 — an increase of 210 per cent.

The report said the main cause of the spike was the “escalating housing crisis,” along with affordability challenges.

Harpelle said with the rising number of unhoused people, Elections NB has been working since the provincial election to help members of this demographic vote.

He said the organization will continue those efforts during the municipal elections.

“We have been working with many social committees in communities, whether that’s through food banks or emergency shelters, to communicate the message that we can help people get added to the list of electors,” he said.

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Harpelle explained Elections NB has been identifying addresses unhoused people can use in order to vote.

In addition to unhoused voters, Harpelle said Elections New Brunswick has been working on initiatives to support other vulnerable groups, including alternate level-of-care patients.

According to Horizon Health Network’s most recent board meeting, officials said in July 2025, 40 per cent of hospital beds were occupied by patients waiting for a nursing home placement. As of February this year, that number had declined to 37 per cent.

Harpelle said as the number of ALC patients has grown over the years, returning officers have had to ensure they are making more frequent visits to hospitals.

Hospital voting is not a new service, Harpelle said, but it was previously reserved for more “acute cases.”

He said for this municipal election, Elections NB is prepared to continue offering that service.

Other accessibility tools include curbside voting, voting by mail, braille ballots and assistive technologies such as braille controllers with audio, audio paddles, sip-and-puff devices with audio, pocket talkers and sign language interpreters.

Harpelle said Elections NB has also placed greater attention on promoting available accessibility options by producing two new educational videos outlining the services provided.