Kwanlin Dn First Nation election going ahead, with extra precautions

The Kwanlin Dn First Nation election will go ahead Wednesday, but with safety precautions amid concerns over COVID-19, according to the chief returning officer.

Norman Eady saidthat includes hand sanitizing stations, spacing polling booths further apart, cleaning polling booths after each use and trying to control how many people are present.

"We're going to be offering voters pencils or pens to use to vote. But they're single-use, and then they're just going to be disposed of afterward, or they can take them home. But they're not going to be reused,"Eadysaid.

A news release from theKwanlin Dn First Nation late Tuesday afternoon said other accommodations will be made to ensure people can vote.

"Any citizens who are on self-isolation or self-quarantine protocols may access an isolated voting booth near the back entrance of the Nkwt' K Potlatch House. We ask anyone who is practicing self-isolation or self-quarantine to identify themselves and to not enter the front door of Nkwt' K," the release says.

It goes on to say Nkwt' K has "received a thorough disinfecting cleaning" as part of the election preparations.

While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19inYukon, the territory's chief medical officer of health has banned all gatherings of more than 50 people.

Please come out and vote. It's going to be a sanitized, safe, healthy environment to vote.- Norman Eady, chief returning officer, Kwanlin Dn First Nation

There are 865 eligible voters in Wednesday's election for chief and council. There are three candidates for chief and 16 candidates for six councillor positions.

Eady saidmany elders who live in Copper Ridge Place and Whistle Bend Place have already voted by special ballot.

Kwanlin Dn First Nations citizens who live outside the traditional territory have voted by mail, hesaid.

Kwanlin Dn's director of health has been in contact with medical authorities, Eadyadded. Andelections staff have followed all of thedirector of health's suggestions.

The news release says the ban on gatherings of 50 or more people will be strictly enforced and citizens are asked not to gather at Nkwt' K after the vote

"We ask all voters to please respect any direction given by officials on-site, and exercise patience in these extraordinary circumstances," it says.

Eady urged all citizens to come out and vote.

"It's going to be a sanitized, safe, healthy environment to vote," Eadysaid.

Polls are open tomorrow at the Nkwt' K Potlatch House from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.