Cold Winter Election: A Coat, and a Tie

The Race is a Tie!
Akulliq byelection recount leads to tie

2nd vote needed for electors in Kugaaruk and Repulse Bay

CBC News
January 8, 2009

Voters in Nunavut's Akulliq constituency will have to go to the polls again to pick their MLA, after a recount of ballots from a byelection last month showed a tie for first place.

The judicial recount, which took place Thursday afternoon, found John Ningark and incumbent Steve Mapsalak tied at 157 votes each.

Nunavut chief electoral officer Sandy Kusugak said that under Section 149 of the Nunavut Elections Act, "if a judicial recount results in a tie, that there will be a new election."

"Both John Ningark and Steve Mapsalak attained 157 votes. There's a complete tie, and this will require another election in the constituency of Akulliq," she said after Thursday's recount.

Initial results from the Dec. 15 byelection had Ningark leading Mapsalak by only two votes, triggering the judicial recount because the difference was by less than two per cent.

ATSRTWT

(Nod to RL)