Skip to content

Trustee elections looking for increased voter turnout

logo

Both Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (YK1) and Yellowknife Catholic Schools (YCS) are hoping for higher voter turnout when residents hit the polls for school board elections in October.

A total of 1,953 ballots were cast between the two boards in the 2015 election - 1,325 for YK1 and 625 for YCS.

There were 9,000 eligible voters in Yellowknife, which translates to a 22 per cent voter turnout.

The school board elections are managed jointly by both school boards and the administration of the election rotates between the boards,” stated a joint YK1 and YCS news release. “This year, YCS will administer the election. To commence the election process YCS will appoint the returning officer.”

Mona Durkee was appointed the returning officer at the monthly YCS board meeting on Wednesday.

Durkee will be working on improving the advertisement of the school board elections to Yellowknife residents,” stated the release. “This is being done to encourage more Yellowknife public to participate in the election... hopefully increasing Yellowknife resident participation in the process.”

Despite talks of holding separate elections for school board trustees, YK1 and YCS will once again be included in October's municipal election in accordance with territorial law.

School board trustees are elected to perform similar duties to city councillors.

Trustees play an important role in shaping the future of education in Yellowknife, making decisions about the delivery of said education,” stated the release.

No candidates from YK1 or YCS had declared they would run as of press time.

FACT FILE : Save the dates for trustee vote

  • August 31 – Nominations Open
  • September 17 – Nominations Close
  • September 19 – Last date for candidate to withdraw.
  • September 20 – Last date to question eligibility of candidate
  • October 1-5 - Voting at the office of the returning officer – municipal only
  • October 5 – last day to revise the voter list
  • October 10 – Last day to apply for proxy form
  • October 15 – General Election Day