Qikiqtani Inuit Association to do recount in secretary treasurer vote

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association will do a recount of secretary treasurer ballots in response to an official request following an announcement of election results this past Dec. 10 for a secretary treasurer and community directors in six communities, a news release said.

That’s because of the close result produced by the first vote count. Joe Attagutaaluk of Igloolik took 1,609 votes, only 50 more than Paul Irngaut of Iqaluit, who took 1,559 votes.

“I have accepted the recount request due to the results being very close. We are waiting for all the ballots to arrive and hope to conclude the recount by next week,” chief returning officer Navarana Beveridge said.

Also in the final results: Levi Barnabas of Arctic Bay and Olayuk Akesuk of Cape Dorset were re‐elected to second terms as community director, while Stevie Aulaqiaq was re‐elected in Qikiqtarjuaq for his a third term.

Enookie Inuarak won a by‐election in Pond Inlet.

For the community director positions in Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay, Larry Audlaluk and Paul Amagoalik were both acclaimed.

About 3,170 eligible Inuit beneficiaries cast ballots in this election, out of a total of 9,510 eligible voters, producing a voter turnout of about 33 per cent.

“QIA has seen the percentage of voter turnout increase steadily in the past two years and we encourage more Inuit to keep exercising their right to vote,” the press release said.