Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

Successful MLA candidate for Frame Lake, Wendy Bisaro, left, chats with Lynda Comerford and Mayor Gord Van Tighem on election night in the Great Hall of the legislative assembly Oct. 1, 2007. Elections NWT won't be posting election results there this year. - NNSL file photo

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Election officials hope easier voting rules will lead to an easier time at the polls when election day comes Oct. 3.

"We're making it as easy as possible for voters," said David Brock, chief electoral officer for the NWT.

Voters can produce one piece of picture ID, or two pieces "from a long list that includes everything from a library card to mail with their name and address," he said.

Those without identification can be vouched for by a qualified voter or, if they know the returning officer, they can mark their ballots in the returning office in their constituency between Sept. 21 and Oct. 1.

Voter turnout in 2007 was 67 per cent, or 13,025 of 20,232 eligible voters. The highest was 90.87 per cent in Tu Nedeh, the lowest 45.27 per cent in Frame Lake.

Yellowknife constituencies pulled the voting average down. With the exception of Weledeh at 80.11 per cent, turnout for the six other constituencies in the capital was 60 per cent or less.

The cost of the 2007 territorial election is estimated at $940,000.

Unlike the last federal election which saw polling booths at the diamond mines, there will be no voting at the mine sites in the territorial election, Brock said.

"We're in close collaboration with the mines, and the feeling is that miners have enough opportunities with absentee ballots and advance polls to vote without having polling stations on site," he said.

There will be multi-district polls set up at Aurora College campuses and at the four correctional institutions, where voters from any of the 19 constituencies can vote Sept. 27-28, he said.

Political junkies who want instant access to territorial voting results can get them via the internet on election night, on the Elections NWT website.

In previous elections, the only place to watch the results roll in on election night was on the big white board in the Great Hall of the legislative assembly, "but the best place to generate timely, accurate results is from my office," said Brock.

In 2007, one media outlet working from the Great Hall declared an upset in Hay River South, with Jean-Marc Miltenberger toppling incumbent Jane Gronewegen before all the polls reported.

The results will be posted as soon as they are available, Brock said "and can be accessed by anyone from anywhere in the world."

That doesn't mean the end to the traditional election night gathering that always drew media, politicians and their followers to the legislature.

"We're still willing to act as a centre for media and candidates on election night," said Tim Mercer, clerk of the legislature, "but there won't be any big boards with the results posted."

­ with files from Kevin Allerston

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.