New Elections Act shortens campaign period

DENISE RIDEOUT

Nunavut’s next territorial election will be a faster, shorter race for candidates and a more accessible process for voters.

MLAs passed the Nunavut Elections Act during last month’s sitting of the legislature in Pangnirtung. The new document replaces one created for the purpose of electing the territory’s first legislative assembly in February 1999.

Nunavummiut who decide to run to become a member of the legislative assembly will have to be prepared to act fast. That’s because the nomination period has been cut in half — to five days from 10. In addition, candidates will have only 35 days, not the usual 45, to get out and attract votes.

What hasn’t changed is the amount of money candidates can spend on their campaign. During the pre-election and election periods, a candidate can spend a total of $30,000.

“The introduction of the new Nunavut Elections Act reflects our commitment to the ongoing review and development of made-in-Nunavut legislation,” said Kelvin Ng, government house leader, when he introduced the bill in the legislature.

“It is a responsible measure that establishes the necessary framework for the conduct of future elections to this assembly.”

The assembly has been working to draft a new elections act since the first assembly was elected. A standing committee of MLAs held hearings in seven communities to get Nunavummiut’s input on the act.

Much work was put into revising the elections act to make it easier for Nunavummiut to vote in elections.

The new law makes it easier for voters to cast a ballot. The most significant change is that Nunavummiut living in outpost camps can call in their vote using a satellite or radio phone.

Potential voters can register their names at any time, not just before an election. In addition, voters who live in the same community as the returning officer will have the option of casting their ballot at the office.

“We have made it easier for electors to exercise their right to vote by extending the use of the mobile poll to those with physical disabilities and by creating an emergency voting procedure that will allow voters in outpost camps to vote by satellite phone or radio phone if they chose,” Kevin O’Brien, speaker of the house, explained during the review of the bill by the committee of the whole.

Voting by satellite or HF radio is a unique voting method aimed at catering to the Inuit lifestyle, he said.

Even Nunavummiut serving time in a federal prison can now vote. A Supreme Court ruling that came in while the legislative assembly was reviewing the act says prisoners are no longer prohibited from voting.

“We learned this morning of today’s Supreme Court of Canada decision regarding the right of federal inmates to vote in elections,” Paul Okalik, Nunavut’s justice minister, said in a press release.

The act was amended to include the prisoners’ right to vote before it was passed.