Election officials say they're ready to handle two votes on same day
Voters in six NWT communities will cast their ballots municipally on Oct. 19, the same day as federal election
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Monday, August 31, 2015
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
The deputy chief municipal electoral officer in the NWT said she is not worried about election day frustration and confusion among voters despite the fact that six municipal elections will be held in the territory on Oct. 19, the same day as the federal election.
Valerie Conrad is also acting manager of community government for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Hay River, Inuvik, Norman Wells and Yellowknife are all holding municipal votes on Oct. 19. The rest of the communities in the NWT are hamlets and charter communities, Conrad said.
"The municipal election is always the third Monday in October for the cities towns and villages," she said. "We knew there was a possibility the votes could be on the same day because the very last date that the feds could hold an election was Oct. 19."
The municipal elections in the NWT for cities, towns and villages must, by law, be held on the third Monday of October, Conrad said. She said she could not recall a previous vote where the municipal elections in the territory and the federal election were held on the same date.
"It doesn't really create much challenge for us. Most of the cities, towns and villages already have a returning officer in place and the venues are set. In some communities there is only one polling station, but others, like Yellowknife, there are seven," she said. "I don't know where the federal polling stations are going to be in Yellowknife but obviously it would help ... if it was one-stop shopping. I think it would be more efficient for the voter and I think the voter would appreciate that they can vote in both elections in one venue. But that is up to the municipality and the council to make that decision."
In Inuvik, council has opted to have two polling stations form the municipal election, one at Ingamo Hall and the other at the Midnight Sun Complex, Conrad said.
"The Midnight Sun Complex is large enough to house both elections and both polling stations but in this case what's going to end of happening is that people who vote at Ingamo Hall are going to have to go to the Midnight Sun Complex to vote federally," she said. "But their council has made a decision to have two polling stations and they think it'll be easier for people in the west-end of Inuvik to vote for the municipal election at Ingamo Hall."
Conrad said she has been told by federal officials that the federal vote will also be held at the Midnight Sun Complex in Inuvik.
"We're two different entities. They run their election separately from us and we've been organized for a long time now and I am expecting a smooth election," Conrad said.
"Some people have brought up the idea of voter fatigue and I am not going to under-estimate the intelligence of the voter. They know who they want to vote for municipally, federally and later territorially."
Conrad said voters should not be alarmed to see people representing candidates at the polling stations.
"Scrutineers or candidates' agents are allowed in the polling stations. There can only be one ... for the candidate in the polling station and they are observers," she said.
Meanwhile, Elections Canada does not seem overly concerned, at least at this point, about the overlapping elections. In an e-mail to News/North, Elections Canada spokesperson Diane Benson stated it is still early and the agency will have more information as the election nears.
"We are aware that municipal elections are also taking place on Oct. 19. The local returning officer is gathering information about polling sites that could be affected the election and whether it will have an impact on recruitment," she stated.
"The returning officer (RO) will be putting a plan in place to address any issues that are identified and the RO with co-ordinate with municipal officials on any issues that are identified. We haven't yet determined whether any polling stations will need to be shared. We want to inform electors if there is information they will need to know and we'll have a better idea of that in the next few weeks."
