Town official pushes for residents to vote
Election season heats up on three government levels
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Thursday, September 3, 2015
INUVIK
Nominations for town council open Sept. 4, but the election process is just getting started.
With three elections all within six weeks of each other - municipal, territorial and federal - the logistics could be challenging, but that shouldn't discourage people from turning out to vote.
"Voter turnout is low, just like anywhere else," said the town's senior administrative officer, Grant Hood, who will be serving as returning officer for this year's municipal election. "I believe about 700 people voted out of 1,700 eligible in the last election."
Hood said there might be some confusion as a result of the federal election to be held on Oct. 19, the same day. While there are two polling stations for the municipal election, there is only one for the federal version, which will see a member of Parliament elected for the riding of NWT. If a person votes in the municipal election at Ingamo Hall, they will then have to make their way to the Midnight Sun Complex to vote in the federal election.
"My request is that people get out and vote," said Hood. "It's your council."
The NWT Association of Communities (NWTAC) is encouraging residents to exercise their democratic rights on all levels. They have a series of posters and other resources available, including sample questions for candidates.
"Our biggest position on the importance of voting is for community members to make local issues into election issues, and to ask questions of candidates about their communities and what their positions are on important issues," spokesperson for the NWTAC Shannon Crawley stated in an e-mail. "We are in the midst of our My Community Matters campaign, which highlights the value of investment in community governments and the 37 per cent funding gap that communities are struggling with each year."
If people are looking to take their involvement a step further, there will be a package available for council and mayor candidates Sept. 4, with the nomination period closing Sept. 21 at 3 p.m.
At the very least, Hood encouraged people to consult the voter lists that will be posted around town and make sure they are on them, and that all their information is correct.
