Confusion, allegations and 16,524 phone calls: A look inside N.L.'s pandemic election by Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press Posted May 19, 2021 2:32 pm EDT Last Updated May 19, 2021 at 2:45 pm EDT ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Newfoundland and Labrador’s abrupt shift to a mail-in election in February led to more than 16,000 calls for help, several allegations of election violations and at least one plea for civility. “While I recognize that this process has taken longer than expected, it would be appreciated if candidates making complaints do so in a civil manner,” chief electoral officer Bruce Chaulk wrote in a March 14 email to all political parties as vote counting was underway.