Slide Deck 4: The Voting Process

Why do you think it is important to VOTE?

Who is responsible for running Nunavut elections? Elections Nunavut is the non-partisan electoral agency that oversees all territorial elections and plebiscites in Nunavut This ensures that territorial elections in Nunavut are administered in a fair, transparent and accountable manner 3

On October 30, 2017, citizens across the territory will vote to elect candidates for their new territorial government

How do you know if you are eligible to vote?

Voter eligibility You are eligible to vote in a Nunavut territorial election if you are: A Canadian citizen; 18 years of age or older on election day; A Nunavut resident for at least one year on election day; and Not disqualified from voting

Eligible Voters For the first time ever, Nunavummiut born after the creation of Nunavut who are 18 years of age can vote The voters list is a list that Elections Nunavut compiles of all registered voters. It has the voter’s name, mailing address and civic address Elections Nunavut uses the voters list to keep track of who voted during an election

What do you need in order to vote?

Voter identification In order to vote, you must produce one piece of authorized identification that establishes your name and current residential address if the electoral officers do not personally know you For example, a driver’s license, vehicle registration and Government of Nunavut General Identification Card are all acceptable Every voter on the voters list gets a Voter Information Card in the mail, early in the election period. This card shows the voter’s name and address, the voter’s constituency, and where and when to vote

Can you explain how the voting process works?

How do I mark my ballot? Voting is done by secret ballot. No one except the voter knows the choice that was made A ballot lists the names of the candidates running for each constituency The voter must clearly mark the ballot for one candidate for it to be accepted (e.g., checkmark, X, shading in)

Why is it important that we vote by secret ballot? What could the consequences be if elections were held publicly?

How does the voting process work? The voting process at a voting station works as follows: Once you confirm your eligibility, you are given a ballot; You go behind a voting screen and mark your ballot; Then re-fold your ballot and hand it back to the ballot clerk for verification; and After it has been verified, your ballot is placed in the ballot box

Rejected and Spoiled Ballots A rejected ballot cannot be counted due to a deliberate or accidental unrecognizable choice. This can include any unofficial ballots, marking the ballot for more than one candidate (even if different symbols are used), ranking the candidates, leaving the ballot blank or identifying the voter A spoiled ballot is kept separate and never placed in the ballot box because it was mistakenly marked or torn during the voting process. It is placed it in the envelope for spoiled ballots. The voter receives another ballot

What are the different ways to vote?

How to Vote Polling Place in Your Community (on election day) Office of the Returning Officer (before election day) Advance Vote (before election day) Mail-in Ballot Mobile Poll (brought to your home) By Radio or Satellite Phone

What is advance voting? For any voter who lives in a community without an Office of the Returning Officer, they can vote on a designated advance voting day This is one day only and it occurs seven days before election day: polling stations are open from 12 noon to 7pm local time

Debrief Are you ready to vote? What else can you do to prepare for Student Vote Day? How can you encourage eligible voters to cast their own ballots? Will you vote in the future when you turn eighteen?