New Brunswick has had, since the Legislative Council was abolished by an act passed on 16 April 1891, a unicameral legislature called the New Brunswick Legislature, consisting of the Lieutenant Governor and the Legislative Assembly with 49 seats. The legislature functions according to the Westminster system of government. Elections are now held at least every five years but may be called at any time by the lieutenant governor (the vice-regal representative) on consultation with the premier.

There are two dominant political parties in New Brunswick, the Liberal Party and the Progressive Conservative Party. From time to time, other parties such as the New Democratic Party, the Confederation of Regions Party, and more recently, the Green Party of New Brunswick and People's Alliance of New Brunswick have held seats in the Legislative Assembly.

The two major political parties in New Brunswick are the New Brunswick Liberal Association and the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick.

The United Farmers earned 6 seats during the 1920 election. The Confederation of Regions Party is the only minor party to have been official opposition at the legislative assembly. It won 8 seats in the 1991 elections and 3 seats in 1995.

The registered political parties during the 2024 elections are:

During the 1861 provincial elections, New Brunswick was the first in North America to use the secret ballot.

In 1785, women were banned from voting by the Legislative Council of New Brunswick. Women got the right to vote in provincial elections in 1919 and were allowed to be candidates in 1934. Brenda Robertson was the first woman elected to the legislative assembly during the 1967 provincial election.

The Elections Act of 1952 prevented First Nations members to vote in provincial elections. This measure was revoked 11 years later.