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Tlicho election day Votes cast from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 10, 2013
TLICHO
Returning officers are anticipating a healthy number of voters during today's Tlicho general election.
The election will determine chiefs and councillors in Behchoko, Gameti, Whati and Wekweeti.
Larry Baran, returning officer in Whati, said there were 275 voters registered last week in the community of just more than 500 residents.
"It will be fair to say we have a strong interest in this election," Baran said.
"If we have that many show up, it will be a strong indicator of the interest here."
Baran said the community's all-candidates meeting, which was held on May 29, was attended by at least 100 people and ran from 7 p.m. until midnight.
An additional 12 people voted in an advanced poll held on May 31. Baran said the votes from the advanced poll will be counted first, and then the regular votes will be counted. Ten people have applied for proxy voting, as they will not be in the community on voting day, Baran said.
Some youth in Whati say they want action, not words, according to the community's Facebook page. Youth want better community support for traditional programs and activities, as well as more opportunities for partnerships between elders and the community's young people. One youth asked for more emphasis on year-round recreational programming, instead of just in the summer months.
Another youth said he wants better support for language and traditional activities, such as hand games tournaments.
Voters can go to the Whati Cultural Centre from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. to cast their votes today.
Gameti is also expecting a good turnout, with more than 90 per cent of registered voters expected to cast ballots, said senior administrative officer Greg Morash.
"We're really promoting people to turn out because it is important and we're anticipating between 92- and 98-per-cent turnout," he said.
Morash said voting lists are divided between councillors and chiefs and last week, 186 residents were registered to vote for councillors with an additional 179 registered
to vote for chief. As of last week, nine residents had applied for proxy votes.
Voting will take place at the community hall from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today.
About 82 voters were registered in Wekweeti last week, said returning officer Noella Kodzin. At least three community members will be voting by proxy. Voting in the community will take place at the Community Government office from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Behchoko had 1,288 voters registered last week, but returning officer Louisa Wedzin said residents can still vote on election day as long as they can prove they have lived in the community for at least six months. Only Tlicho residents are permitted to vote for the chief, but all residents are eligible to vote for councillors, Wedzin said. There were 72 non-Tlicho residents on the voter's list.
Eleven people had applied to vote by proxy and Wedzin said proxy voters should let workers know when they arrive at the polling station.
Voting will take place today at the Behchoko Cultural Centre and the Edzo Youth Centre from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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