Recount ordered in Nunakput
Herbert Nakimayak beats incumbent by just four votes;
Jackie Jacobson claims successor not eligible candidate
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Monday, November 30, 2015
NUNAKPUT
A four-vote win margin and eligibility allegations have made Nunakput one of the more dramatic ridings to watch in the wake of the territorial election.
A judicial recount for the riding will be held on Nov. 30 in NWT Supreme Court in Yellowknife, where challenger Herbert Nakimayak beat incumbent Jackie Jacobson by just four votes.
Nakimayak had 229 votes to Jacobson's 225. Ethel-Jean Gruben finished third with 169 votes, John Stewart Jr. was next with 81 votes while Robert Kuptana had 34 votes. The NWT Elections and Plebiscites Act states that recounts must be held if the margin of victory is less than two per cent, which is the case in Nunakput.
"The recount will just confirm my win," said Nakimayak, expressing confidence in the original results.
On top of the close race, Jacobson has also gone public with an accusation that Nakimayak has not resided long enough in the NWT to be an eligible candidate for MLA.
"I'm questioning his residency and whether he lived in the riding for 12 consecutive months before the election and for him to prove to everybody his residency either with phone bills, land tax, etc.," Jacobson said.
"When the recount is done and (Nakimayak) can show me his residency, I'll concede and I'll congratulate him with all the best to represent Nunakput. Until then let democracy take its course."
The NWT Elections and Plebiscites Act states that a person is eligible to become a candidate if they have ordinarily been a resident in the NWT for at least 12 months prior to filing their nomination papers.
According to Elections NWT spokesperson Adrienne Cartwright, nobody has filed any official complaints about the election with her office. The Elections NWT website states any complaint must be filed within one year of the vote in question.
Nakimayak says his job requires regular travel but insists he's kept a residence in the territory.
"I've been living in the North. I work with an international organization that requires me to travel nationally and internationally. If I wasn't eligible to run I wouldn't have come this far," Nakimayak said.
"I am on the (NWT) voters list. I made sure with Elections NWT over a year ago. I would not have run if I wasn't eligible. Doesn't one think that if I'm not a member of the NWT - Paulatuk, Inuvik, do you think I would be where I am? Probably not. Jackie's accusations are false. He has no idea about the Elections NWT Act. He is definitely taking things out of proportion. I was working on a project in Iqaluit, Ontario, Alaska, but I am a resident of the NWT and I don't think I have to say any more."
Nakimayak said he had not heard anything about any voting irregularities and he has faith in the judicial recount process.
Jacobson said that he looks forward to the recount, especially in light of information he said he has received about the number of spoiled ballots.
"Of the 83 ballots from the advance polls in Tuk here, 15 per cent, 12 ballots in total, were spoiled. I hope who ever is looking at the votes they will see the 12 spoiled ballots," Jacobson said.
"It's got to be fair and it's got to be democratic."
Voter turnout in Nunakput was the highest in the territory, with 74 per cent.
