Yellowknife (Oct 20/03) - Voters who aren't sure how to spell a candidate's name or can't read it will find help when they step into the polling booth in next month's territorial election.

Chief electoral officer David Hamilton signs the writs for the Nov. 24 territorial election. The writs declare that returning officers will accept nominations for candidates until Oct. 31. - Photo Credit: Elections NWT

In what marks a first for Canada, ballots for the Northwest Territories 19 constituencies will show photos of candidates as well as their names.

"It's the first time a territory or province has used a photo ballot," said Barb Paquin, communications officer for Elections NWT.

Low literacy skills in the Northwest Territories prompted the move, Paquin said.

The NWT Literacy Council estimates that illiteracy rates may be as high as 19 per cent in some communities. Elections NWT is also introducing a new category in the Nov. 24 election for voters who want to register a protest.

"People can decline a ballot as an indication of their protest," said Paquin.

"In previous elections, the only ways to protest were to not vote at all or to spoil the ballot," said Paquin.

In the 1999 election 107 of the 13,885 ballots cast were rejected as spoiled.

Paquin said some of the rejected ballots may have been marked in error while others who wanted to register a protest didn't vote.

Paquin said this year's election will also eliminate proxy votes.

Instead of having a ballot cast for them, voters who can't make to the polls on Nov. 24 will have more opportunities to vote in special polls, she said.

Enumerators have registered 21,153 voters for the election; 20,837 were eligible to vote in 1999 for 65 candidates in 19 constituencies.

Nominations open Oct. 27 and close Oct. 31.