Elections Nunavut issues writ for do-over by-election in Rankin

Voters in Rankin Inlet South will go to the polls Feb. 10 to choose an MLA, following the unbreakable tie in that riding produced by the Oct. 28 territorial election. The deadline for submitting candidate declarations to Elections Nunavut is 2:00 p.m., Jan. 10. (FILE PHOTO)

Eligible Nunavut voters may now enter the Feb. 10 by-election in Rankin Inlet South.

Any eligible voter in Nunavut may become a candidate for the by-election, which must be held because of a tie produced by the territorial election this past Oct. 28.

“You do not have to live in Rankin Inlet South to be a candidate,” said a Jan. 6 Elections Nunavut press release.

The deadline for receiving candidate declarations falls on Jan. 10 at 2 p.m., Elections Nunavut said.

Following a judge’s recount held Nov. 5, the two candidates — Lorne Kusugak and Alexander Sammurtok — ended up in an unbreakable tie, each with 172 votes.

Sammurtok has already confirmed with Nunatsiaq News that he will contest the by-election.

“I think I’ve got a good chance,” Sammurtok said Nov. 5, after the judicial recount.

Kusugak, the incumbent MLA for the old riding of Rankin Inlet South-Whale Cove, also plans on running.
“I’m definitely running,” Kusugak said Nov. 14. “I’ve always been certain that I plan to run.”

The total number of voters on the riding’s list sits at 615. About 57 per cent turned out to vote Oct. 28, with six rejected ballots.