Byelection today for Uqqummiut seat in Nunavut legislature

Voters are heading to the polls in Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq today in a byelection to choose the next MLA for Uqqummiut.

There are three candidates in the race. James Arreak and Niore Iqalukjuak are from Clyde River and Pauloosie Keyootak is from Qikiqtarjuaq.

Polls open in both communities at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

The polling station in Clyde River is located at the community hall and in Qikiqtarjuaq at the hamlet office.

Sandy Kusugak, Nunavut's chief electoral officer, says four special ballots were sent to people who applied when the election period began.

They could be voters in prison, away at school or travelling outside of the community at the time of the byelection.

Kusugak says as of Friday, none of the special ballots had been returned and they will not be counted if they arrive after 5 p.m. Monday.

"We just keep it in our files with all our other materials from that election. Then 12 months later along with all the other ballots it will be shredded and put away," Kusugak says.

The seat was declared vacant on Oct. 24, 2014, when Samuel Nuqingaq was expelled from the legislature for unacceptable conduct, including criminal charges and many absences from meetings.