Things are gearing up for the leadership convention for the New Democratic Party on P.E.I., slated for Oct. 13.

Advance polls will be held this Thursday, Sept. 27 at the Voluntary Resource Centre in Charlottetown and on Saturday, Sept 29 in O'Leary, Summerside, Charlottetown and Pooles Corner.

Trevor Leclerc, who ran for the NDP against Premier Robert Ghiz in the last provincial election, was the first to put his name forward to be the new leader of P.E.I.'s NDP. (Denis Calnan/CBC)

A leadership debate will be held Wednesday evening, Sept. 26 in Cornwall. The two candidates are Trevor Leclerc and Mike Redmond.

The party has been without a leader since James Rodd resigned last February.

The NDP was supposed to elect a new leader last May, but Leclerc was the only person running for the leadership at the time. He stepped aside then because of the lack of a competitor.

In its history, the party has only ever elected one MLA to the legislature.

Mike Redmond is the facilities director at Murphy's Community Centre in Charlottetown, and is also well known in the Island's soccer scene. (CBC)

Andrew Want, president of the NDP party on P.E.I, said he hopes the debate helps members to make an informed decision when they vote.

"Membership has grown and the debate gives members the opportunity to hear what each of the candidates has got to say and what they will bring to the leadership role of the party," said Want.

"We want people to be able to make an informed decision when it comes to voting, so this will give them an opportunity if they haven't yet met and spoken to the candidates, they'll be able to hear what they've got to offer."

Want expects there will be quite a bit of interest in the leadership convention. The party is up in the polls and federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcair will be the guest speaker.