DEH CHO - Although the recently called federal election is grabbing a lot of attention, David Brock is focused on a different election.

David Brock, right, the chief electoral officer with Elections NWT, met with Deborah Stipdonk, the new returning officer for Nahendeh, on March 23 while on a tour of electoral districts in the territory. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Brock is the chief electoral officer with Elections NWT, the agency responsible for administering territorial general elections.

The election period for the fall territorial election is still six months away but Brock and his staff have already started preparations.

Before the election Brock, who was appointed to his position last October, is trying to visit all 19 electoral districts in the territory. Last week he stopped in Fort Providence and Fort Simpson thereby covering both the Deh Cho and Nahendeh districts.

"One of the best parts is just to see the community or the electoral district as a whole from an electoral perspective," he said.

In both communities Brock met with the returning officers for the district. Phoebe Parent of Fort Providence has remained in the position while Deborah Stipdonk of Fort Simpson is preparing for her first election in that role.

One of Election NWT's primary responsibilities is appointing returning officers, one for each district, and training all of the election officers, of which there can be up to 300 per election, said Brock.

Election officers receive a remuneration but it is primarily a service position and some return election after election.

"Our election officers have a wealth of experience so we have a lot to learn from them," he said.

In the communities, Brock has also been looking at where polling stations have been held in the past, where they could be held this election, talking to residents about the upcoming election and encouraging voter registration. The territory is the third jurisdiction in Canada to have online voter registration.

Anyone who is a Canadian citizen, has lived in the territory for the past 12 consecutive months, with some exceptions granted for travel and education, and will be 18 years or older by the polling day can register to vote. There is a time at the beginning of the election period where the voter list will be available in the offices of the returning officers so people can confirm their registration, Brock said.

Already things are getting exciting in the Elections NWT office with phone calls coming in from people interested in candidacy, he said.

There are three important dates for the election. June 5 is the first day of the pre-election period and the first day individuals who want to be candidates can use their own money to promote themselves.

The week of Sept. 5 to 9 is the official start of the election period when people can submit forms to the offices of the returning officers to be declared a candidate. Nomination forms must be signed by at least 15 or more electors living in the district where the candidate is seeking election, according the Elections NWT website.

General polling will take place on Oct. 3.

The next few months are important because work needs to be done well in advance of the election so everything runs smoothly on polling day, Brock said.

"It's a very busy period," he said.

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