Residents in Nunavut's South Baffin constituency have until Friday afternoon if they want to run in a byelection that was called after no one put their name in as candidates in the territory's general election.
Candidates in Kimmirut and Cape Dorset have until 2 p.m. ET to submit their declaration papers with Elections Nunavut.
The byelection will be held Nov. 3, one week after Nunavummiut in all other constituencies will have chosen their MLAs in the Oct. 27 territorial election.
South Baffin made Nunavut history last week when it was the only constituency in Nunavut to have no candidates running.
"I guess it was a bit of a shock for some people, but I believe there [are] … some people trying to nominate a candidate. So hopefully there'll be one before Friday," Kimmirut resident Seemeega Aqpik told CBC News.
Cape Dorset Mayor Fred Schell, who is putting his name forward as a candidate, said he believes many people forgot the deadline and were embarrassed to learn no one was running on Oct. 27.
"By this Friday, there will definitely be a few candidates putting their names in," Schell said.
Elections Nunavut says it won't cost much to hold a separate byelection in South Baffin, as the budget that had been set aside for South Baffin in the general election will cover most of the byelection expenses.
"The same materials and equipment that would be used for the general election will be used at the byelection," chief electoral officer Sandy Kusugak said.
"We have not already shipped ballot boxes that have come back, for instance, or computers and printers, that sort of thing. So it's, really, very little expense."
Kusugak said the only separate expense would be two or three days of extra staff time to prepare for the byelection.
Related
Nunavut Votes 2008 »
- 'We just have to roll up our sleeves,' says Nunavut premier-elect Aariak
- Nunavut's new premier-elect said she plans to get to work right away with her fellow MLAs to move the northern territory ahead over the next four years.
- Eva Aariak topples incumbent to become Nunavut's 2nd premier
- First-time member of the legislative assembly Eva Aariak defeated incumbent Paul Okalik to become Nunavut's second premier Friday, and the northern territory's first female premier.
- Nunavut MLAs get ready to pick premier, cabinet
- As members of Nunavut's third legislative assembly prepare to decide who will lead the territory for the next four years, rumours and intense lobbying abound in the contest for the top job.
- Akulliq byelection scheduled for Dec. 15
- People living in Repulse Bay and Kugaaruk, Nunavut, will finally choose their MLA next month, after a court challenge cancelled the voting there in last month's territorial election.
- Nunavut MLAs to choose premier, cabinet next week
- Nunavut's newly elected politicians will select the territory's premier, speaker, and most of its cabinet ministers in a leadership forum scheduled for Nov. 14.
