NNSL (Mar 24/97) - People of Nunavut will have their say on gender parity this spring.

The NWT's chief polling officer, David Hamilton, announced last week a binding public vote on the issue has been scheduled for May 26.

The question Nunavut will answer yes or no to is: "Should the first Nunavut Legislative Assembly have equal numbers of men and women MLAs, with one man and one woman elected to represent each electoral district?"

All people who have lived in Nunavut for the year prior to the vote will be eligible to participate.

A simple majority, 50 per cent plus one vote, will determine the outcome. All eligible voters will be able to cast their votes by proxy.

Advance polls will be held May 15. Voting lists will be posted in each community on or before April 18.

Eligible voters whose names do not appear on the list will have until May 8 to apply to have their names added.

The federal government is picking up the $350,000 tab for the binding public vote.