INUVIK - When Sandra and her husband Steve Forbes found out about the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 19, they were hoping to cast a ballot.

But because they haven't lived here for a year, that won't happen.

Sandra Forbes, a Grade 4 teacher at Sir Alexander Mackenzie School, checks up on her students Noah Vittrekwa and Nicole Wilkinson on Oct. 2. She's disappointed she won't be able to vote in the Oct. 19 election. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

The pair taught at Chief Julius School in Fort McPherson for four years prior to arriving in Inuvik. They arrived here at the end of August with their two children, Alex, 3, and one-and-a-half-year-old Johanna. Sandra teaches Grade 4 while Steve teaches at Samuel Hearne Secondary School.

They've been busy trying to settle in and were lucky enough to find child care for their little ones. Upon finding out they couldn't vote, she said she and her husband were disappointed.

"I like to vote and I like to have my opinion heard," she said. "I would have liked to have chosen the candidate that best represents my values."

The Local Authorities Elections Act, which sets down the rules for municipal elections in the NWT, states that to be eligible to vote a person must be a resident of the municipality for 12 consecutive months up to the election date.

Eleanor Young, the Territories' deputy chief municipal electoral officer, said the main reason for the rule is to ensure people have sufficient knowledge of the community to be able to make an informed vote.

"I think you have to live somewhere to understand the issues in being effective in making decisions or voting for someone to represent your community," she said.

Because many NWT communities have a high number of transient and temporary workers, Young added the rule prevents people from voting who might not have a "stake in the community."

"If you take a look at some of the communities that have large influxes of seasonal labour, that can really impact something like this if those folks are allowed to vote."

The rules of residency in municipal elections vary from province to province. While Alberta requires its residents to live in a municipality for six months previous to polling day, British Columbia only requires a month of residency in the municipality as long as the voter has lived in the province for six month previous to polling day. In Ontario, you just have to be a resident of the municipality on the day of the election.

Forbes said she and her husband had enough time to be sufficiently informed to decide who they wanted to represent them on council.

"I think it's about how much you educate yourself. If you want to make your voice heard, you're going to educate yourself. I've lived in a lot of places where people have lived for 20 years or more and still don't know the candidates."

The couple has signed one-year work contracts and are hoping to stay in Inuvik long term.

Mayoral candidate Denny Rodgers said he sympathizes with the Forbes and others like them who would like to vote but haven't fulfilled the 12-month residency.

"It's unfortunate, but it is what it is and the rules are what they are and that's fair enough," he said.