P.E.I. Progressive Conservative Party to use mail-in ballots

The Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island will allow members to mail in their ballots before the party’s leadership convention scheduled for the end of February.

The party says it wants to include members who might be temporarily out of the province, including vacationers down south, students away at university and workers out west.

Mail-in ballots will also be available for Islanders with limited physical mobility.

Gordon MacFarlane, a spokesman for the leadership convention committee, says many members have come forward saying they want to vote, but can't make the convention.

“Well as you know Islanders are passionate about their politics and our party members are passionate about the PC party. They want to be involved and they want to have their say in the selection of our new leader. We have three great candidates on the ballot right now,” he said.

The Tories are also holding two days of advance polling.

The party has three seats and forms the Official Opposition in the Legislature.

A provincial election is expected later this year.