Voter turnout high, two ties in Monday’s territorial election

By LISA GREGOIRE

The polls in the Oct 28 Nunavut territorial election closed at 8 p.m. eastern and the first constituency to officially report all polls tallied was Iqaluit-Manirajak, although sources revealed victories by George Hickes Jr. and Paul Okalik in Iqaluit-Tasiluk and Iqaluit-Sinaa before the numbers appeared on the Elections Nunavut website.

Incumbent Monica Ell, who represented Iqaluit West in the last legislature, was declared a winner in Iqaluit-Manirajak just before 10 p.m.

Shortly after midnight on Oct. 29, more than four hours after polls closed, vote counting was complete.

It will be a legislature full of first-time MLAs. Five incumbents lost their seats on Monday: Johnny Ningeongan, Eva Aariak, Hezakiah Oshutapik, Ron Elliot and Fred Schell.

Voter turnout appeared high this year with more than 70 per cent of eligible voters casting ballots in many constituencies. In Cambridge Bay the turnout was tallied at 101.7 per cent.

Pangnirtung had the next highest turnout with 80 per cent and Aggu and Iqaluit-Sinaa had the lowest with 49.4 per cent and 50.3 per cent respectively.

There were not one but two ties this year. Lorne Kusugak and Alexander Sammurtok in Rankin Inlet South tied with 172 votes each. In Uqqummiut, Samuel Nuqingaq and Niore Iqalukjuak tied with 187 votes each.

Those ones will go to judicial recounts, after the respective returning officers apply to the court.

With such a small numbers of voters, races can be tight in a territorial election and the results proved it. In Pangnirtung, Johnny Mike won with 198 votes, just 15 more than second place finisher Harry Dialla, with 183.

Another close race unfolded in Arviat North-Whale Cove, one of the last constituencies to report final numbers, after midnight. There, George Kuksuk won with 160 with Elizabeth Copland finishing only 13 votes behind with 147.

A 20-vote spread made the difference in Iqaluit-Nianqunnguu between winner Pat Angnakak (151 ) and second place finisher Anne Crawford (131)

Here are the results as of about 12:30 a.m. Oct. 29.

Aggu

Voter turnout: 49.4 per cent

Paul Aarulaaq Quassa — 96

John Illupalik — 83

Daniel Uyarak — 42

Aivilik

Voter turnout: 64 per cent

Steve Mapsalak — 263

Johnny Ningeongan — 187

Amittuq

Voter turnout 60.5 per cent

George Quviq Qulaut — 244

Paul Haulli — 103

Arviat North-Whale Cove

Voter turnout 75.9 per cenr

George Kuksuk — 160

Elizabeth Copland — 147

David Kritterdlik — 71

Amauyak Netser — 66

Joseph Kaviok — 19

Arviat South

Voter turnout: 76.6 per cent

Joe Savikataaq — 181

Airo Pameolik — 147

Peter Alareak — 125

Baker Lake

Voter turnout 70.7 per cent

Simeon Mikkungwak — 392

Karen Yip — 269

Cambridge Bay

Voter turnout: 101.7 per cent

Keith Peterson — 443

Fred Pedersen — 120

Clara Hokayak Evalik — 82

Gjoa Haven

Voter turnout: 70.2 per cent

Tony Akoak — 210

Linda Hunter — 161

George Sonny Porter — 46

Andrew Porter (withdrew from election) — 17

Hudson Bay

Voter turnout: 76.1 per cent

Allan Rumbolt — 139

Moses Appaqaq — 97

Frank Audla — 63

Lucy Uppik — 15

Iqaluit-Manirajak

Voter turnout: 67.4 per cent

Monica Ell — 330

Mikidjuk Akavak — 72

Lewis Lehman — 57

Paulie Sammurtok — 19

Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu

Voter turnout 65 per cent

Pat Angnakak — 151

Anne Crawford — 131

Methusalah Kunuk — 81

Jack Anawak — 66

Duncan Cunningham — 41

Sytukie Joamie — 6

Iqaluit-Sinaa

Voter turnout: 50.3 per cent

Paul Okalik — 180

Leesee Papatsie — 97

Solomon Awa — 69

Natsiq Kango — 42

Iqaluit-Tasiluk

Voter turnout: 72.1 per cent

George Hickes — 237

Eva Aariak — 194

Patterk Netser — 85

Travis Cooper — 69

Gideonie Joamie — 28

Kugluktuk

Peter Taptuna (Acclaimed)

Netsilik

Jeannie Ugjuk (Acclaimed)

Pangnirtung

Voter turnout: 80 per cent

Johnny Mike — 198

Harry J. Dialla — 183

Sakiasie Sowdlooapik — 82

Hezakiah Oshutapik — 67

Quttiktuq

Voter turnout: 72.7 per cent

Isaac Shooyook — 232

Ron Elliot — 152

Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet

Voter turnout: 64 per cent

Tom T. Sammurtok — 212

Donna Adams — 94

Qilak Kusugak — 89

Harry Niakrok — 68

Rankin Inlet South

Voter turnout: 56.9 per cent

Lorne Kusugak — 172

Alexander Sammurtok — 172

South Baffin

Voter turnout: 82.4 per cent

David Joanasie — 409

Tommy Akavak — 160

Mathew Saveakjuk Jaw — 51

Fred Schell — 43

Joannie Ikkidluak — 40

Tununiq

Voter turnout: 68.8 per cent

Joe Enook — 359

David Qajaakuttuk Qamaniq — 132

Uqqummiut

Voter turnout 77.9 per cent

Samuel Nuqingaq — 187

Niore Iqalukjuak — 187

Loseosie Paneak — 62

Apiusie Apak — 49

Charlie Kalluk — 26