Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 05/99) - For the returning officer, this month has 45 days.

That's the gap between when the election writ drops and when voters drop their choices in ballot boxes across the NWT.

Lisa Alain, is one of 19 returning officers in the NWT. One of seven Yellowknife returning officers, Alain is responsible for the Great Slave electoral district.

She says the six-week job has given her a behind-the-scenes look at the processes involved in what will be the new NWT's first election.

As the Dec. 6 election day approaches, Alain's responsibilities include fielding questions from voters about polling stations as well as compiling voters lists.

On occasion, Yellowknifers find with the new boundaries they are unaware of which district they now live in, she said. Last time around, there were four Yk districts. This time there's seven.

Prior to the big day, Alain says there are various different ways to vote.

New this time around is the opportunity to vote by mail. And Great Slave voters who may not make it to the polls Dec. 6 can vote during a two-week period at the Great Slave returning office. There is also an advance poll.

"Opening up options to voters reduces the need for proxy voting," she said.

Voters can still vote by proxy but one person can only have one proxy, she said.

Returning officers are also responsible for hiring deputy returning officers and poll clerks who count the ballots.

Alain says she's not "highly political" but being a returning officer means she's gained an awareness of who is running, not just in her district but in all the districts.

"I was very interested to see who was running in each district, the people other than those who I would be voting for," she said.

As a returning officer, one of her responsibilities is to handle administration associated with the Great Slave district candidates.

"They also call with questions," she said.

There are five people running for MLA in the Great Slave district. Alain suggests the fact that there is no Great Slave incumbent (Great Slave is a new electoral district), might have prompted more people to toss their names in the election hat.

"With no incumbent, there may have been more interest. They (Great Slave candidates) were eager," she said.

Amid the 45-day electoral calendar, candidates have eight days to file papers through their returning offices. In the Great Slave district, all five filed within the first two days.

"It will be a good race," Alain said.