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Preparing for the upcoming election
New chief electoral officer visits communitiesSamantha Stokell Northern News Services Published Thursday, July 28, 2011
David Brock took over Elections NWT in October of last year, after working in the executive council offices of the GNWT. His goal since becoming the chief electoral officer is to meet with all of the NWT's electoral representatives, returning officers and community leaders to learn about the needs of each of the 19 electoral districts. "I want the added perspective of the electoral districts. It will go a long way to establishing relationships with the communities," Brock said. "Not all of them are Yellowknife. They have different issues." Earlier this year Brock met with the Gwich'in and Inuvialuit leadership and hopes the informal meetings will create an open relationship, where everyone feels free to ask questions. Since the territorial elections generally happen once every four years, he said people need more "practice" when it comes to voting. "New voters will be casting a vote for the first time, or people new to Canada will have voted in different countries," Brock said. "When an individual walks into a polling station to vote, we want them to feel comfortable." All voters will notice a change this year, with new and stricter guidelines for identification. During previous elections, voters could vote if the returning officer at the polling station knew them. The new guidelines, which will be effective for the Oct.. 3 election, will require voters to provide either an NWT driver's licence or general ID card; show one of 16 different pieces of ID with proof of residence; or have an eligible voter vouch for them by taking an oath. When changing the legislation, the GNWT used the federal system as a model. With more than two months before election day, he said residents should have time to gather proper identification if they wish to vote. "Having (identification) gives greater certainty to electors that the integrity of the election is upheld," Brock said. "You hear stories of fraudulent elections in other countries but you don't hear about them in elections in Canada or the NWT." The first step to becoming an eligible elector is by registering to vote. Electors may already be registered if they voted in the 2007 territorial election or the recent federal election. If they're not sure if they're registered, they can now register online. The NWT is one of only three jurisdictions in Canada to now have online voter registration. Elections NWT will then check the list against their records to ensure all eligible voters are registered. Voters may need to register if they have moved within the territory, or into the territory-in the last four years-have changed their name, or turn 18 before Oct. 3. To be eligible to vote, residents must have lived in the NWT since Oct. 3, 2010. Once registered, people have several options to vote. If people don't have any identification, they can still vote by visiting the returning officer in person. If the officer knows them personally, the voter can cast a ballot at their office between Sept. 21 and Oct. 1. While the North has fairly high voter turnout rates compared to other parts of Canada – in the 2007 territorial election Inuvik had a 94 per cent turnout – Brock said there are more ways to participate in the election than just voting. People can come forward as candidates, can work as election officers or volunteer with candidates. "Elections are community-based events and these people are critical," Brock said. "An element of this election we're trying to promote is that voting is one of four ways of participating and it's important that people come forward." The candidate nomination period runs from Sept. 5 to 9. Advance polls will take place in Inuvik, Yellowknife, Hay River and Fort Smith on Sept. 22.
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