New Brunswick — Premier Blaine Higgs, who called a snap election in the middle of a pandemic, released a video on Monday encouraging New Brunswick voters to do their civic duty.
The provincial election is set to take place on Monday, Sept. 14. Consequently, due to the low voter turnout last election, the premier is strongly suggesting that all citizens do their part and cast their ballots on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
“Our democratic system is one of the best in the world,” Higgs declared in the video, which was posted to his campaign website. “If you go out and vote on time, your voice really does make a difference. That’s why I hope that each and every one of you go out to vote next Wednesday.”
There has been some speculation that in doing this, Higgs hopes to confuse voters in order to encourage a low turnout rate — a situation that typically favours Conservative candidates.
During a phone interview, The Manatee asked the premier outright if he was hoping to skew the political timeline in order to further his own interests.
“Now, I resent that,” he said, angrily. “I kept every single one of my promises during my second term, didn’t I?”