Election polls open today in all Nunavik communities

Wednesday is election day in Nunavik, and polling stations at all municipal offices are open now for Nunavimmiut to elect candidates to lead their communities.

Advance polling started Nov. 3 and voting today began at 9 a.m. in all communities. Polls will remain open until 6 p.m.

Elections are held across the region every three years to choose mayors and councillors to represent each of the villages.

In six communities, though, mayors have already been acclaimed after being the only candidate to seek that position:

• In Akulivik, Larry Hubert replaces incumbent Eli Angiyou, who did not seek re-election;
• Kuujjuaq’s incumbent Mayor Mary Johannes, who was first elected in 2022, remains in office;
• In Kuujjuaraapik, Raymond Mickpegak replaces Parsa Kitishimik who did not run again;
• In Puvirnituq, Lucy Qalingo takes over from Paulusi Angiyou, who did not seek re-election;
• Tasiujaq’s Tommy Annanack was acclaimed as mayor to succeed Billy Cain, who is now running for a council seat;
• In Quaqtaq, Charlie Tukkiapik will be the new mayor to succeed Jusipi Kulula who did not run again.

Most of the other communities have two mayoral candidates going head-to-head on the ballot, while Kangirsuk has a three-way mayoral race to replace Noah Eetok, who did not seek re-election.

Every village also has six local council positions to be filled.

In Ivujivik and Kangiqsujuaq, all the council positions have been filled by acclamation.

Councils in three communities will have vacancies to fill as soon as they take office.

In Puvirnituq, only five candidates ran for council and were all acclaimed. To fill the sixth council seat, interested residents can pick up a nomination form at the municipal office, have it signed by three other local electors, and return it to the municipal office between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday.

At a meeting Nov. 15, Puvirnituq council will choose one of those applicants to fill the sixth council seat.

In Umiujaq and Quaqtaq, only four candidates sought seats on the local council and were acclaimed. Those two councils will decide later how to fill their two vacancies.

Over the course of the next week, members of the new councils will be sworn into office. At each council’s first meeting, a Kativik Regional Government regional councillor must also be appointed.

The first meeting of the new KRG council will be held Nov. 25.