In Rankin South, Kusugak and Sammurtok prepare for Round Two

A voter in Rankin Inlet casts her ballot Oct. 28, in a riding where two candidates finished in a dead heat. Rankin voters go back to the polls Feb. 10. (FILE PHOTO)

The two candidates who finished in an unbreakable tie following the Oct. 28 territorial election are the only people declared as candidates for the Rankin Inlet South’s Feb. 10 by-election.

When the deadline for candidate declarations expired Feb. 10, Lorne Kusugak and Alexander Sammurtok were the only candidates to put their names forward.

Kusugak and Sammurtok ended up tied after Oct. 28 general election, with 172 votes each.

Voter turnout in the newly established riding of Rankin Inlet South was 56.9 per cent on Oct. 28. The total number of voters on the riding’s list sits at 615.

After a judicial recount confirmed the tie, Elections Nunavut was legally required to call a by-election.

Any eligible Nunavut could have contested the by-election.

Kusugak is a former mayor of Rankin Inlet and served as minister of community and government services, minister of energy and minister responsible for the Qulliq Energy Corp. within the government of former Premier Eva Aariak.

Sammurtok has sat on the board of directors of the local co-operative association and worked for the Government of Nunavut at the Department of Community and Government Services, a job from which he has since retired.

A representative from Elections Nunavut said special ballots may be submitted until Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. central time.

Special ballots are for those eligible voters Rankin Inlet South voters not currently residing in the territory or unable to vote on Feb. 10.

Voters may fill out forms online to apply for a special ballot.