SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Non-English-speaking residents of Yellowknife need better translators when it comes time to vote, according to Ndilo resident Benny Noel.

Benny Noel, an 83-year-old resident of Ndilo, claims he was told by an interpreter and fellow patient at Stanton Territorial Hospital who to vote for in the 2011 federal election. Noel doesn't speak English and couldn't read the candidates' names on the ballot. - Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison/NNSL photo

The 83-year-old Tlicho-speaking resident voted at a mobile polling station at Stanton Territorial Hospital, where he was a patient, and claims that because he couldn't read the candidates' names on the ballot, a fellow patient who also speaks Tlicho just pointed at a name for him to pick.

"He was told to vote for the bottom name on the ballot. He doesn't know who it was," said Charlie Beaulieu, a friend of Noel who translated for him during an interview with Yellowknifer.

Candidates were listed alphabetically by last name, which put Green party candidate Eli Purchase at the bottom.

"He knows a lot of other people who were left in the dark, who can't speak English and never hear from the candidates (during the election campaign)," said Beaulieu.

"People don't explain nothing to them. He wants better translators provided. I'm sure Elections Canada has money for that."

Deputy returning officer Elizabeth Wyman said Wednesday that she can't comment as she hasn't received an official complaint.

Elderly voters in Yellowknife have faced obstacles in the past, most recently during the municipal election in 2009 when several seniors were told to vote in alternate electoral districts.

Ed Jeske, a resident at Aven Court, said at the time that he knew of numerous people who wanted to vote but couldn't because they were confined to wheelchairs or unable to travel the extra distance.

Executive director of Aven Manor John Doyle said compared to the municipal election, the federal election went by without a hitch.

Doyle said election officials were "very accommodating," and arranged for a mobile polling station to be set up in the public area the week before the election.

"I think the seniors were very happy about being able to vote here," he said.

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