Manitoba NDP will permit some mail in and electronic voting in leadership

Manitoba NDP Leader Ellen Olfert (screenshot from Winnipeg Free Press footage)

WINNIPEG — Manitoba’s New Democrats will now allow some delegates for their March leadership contest to vote electronically or by mail.

NDP president Ellen Olfert said in a short statement on Sunday the party’s provincial council has voted to make mail-in or electronic voting available for northern delegates who aren’t able to travel to Winnipeg.

The decision is a reversal of one by the party executive earlier this month which said delegates must vote in-person at the convention.

Olfert says the council has directed the party’s provincial secretary to organize a secure voting system for the constituencies of Flin Flon, Kewatinook, Swan River, The Pas and Thompson.

The leadership vote is being held March 8 following a caucus revolt against Premier Greg Selinger.

All three leadership candidates — Steve Ashton, Theresa Oswald and Selinger — said they supported options to allow for remote voting.