The first members of Nunavut’s seventh legislative assembly are now being named.
Tununiq, which covers the village of Pond Inlet, is the first precinct of the night with a winner.
Brian Koonoo has been elected with 50 percent of the vote.
Results are also coming in from some other electoral districts, including Aivilik, Amittuq, Netsilik, Quttiktuq, Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet and Uqqummiut.
There are no votes in two constituencies because candidates, including former Government House leader David Joanasie, were acclaimed.
Polls closed at 7 pm in each of the region’s three time zones.
As a consensus government, there are no political parties and candidates present themselves as independents.
Cabinet members are chosen after general elections. The newly elected MLAs meet to select the president, prime minister and ministers in a secret ballot election.
According to the Elections Nunavut results page, there are approximately 17,000 registered voters.
Results by constituency will be updated here in English and here in Inuktitut as they arrive.
Will Nunavut reverse the trend in voter turnout?
Voter turnout has been steadily declining since Nunavut’s first general election in 1999. Less than half of eligible voters voted in 2021, compared to 86 per cent in 1999.
Speaking to CBC News before Election Day, Manitok Thompson, one of Nunavut’s first MLAs, said she, along with other Nunavummiut, were very excited about the territory when it was first created.
But fast forward to 2025, he said the government’s slow progress on major issues like the high cost of living and the housing crisis is fueling voter apathy.
“I think they are not seeing any change in terms of their basic needs. Those are the people who go out to vote, but they no longer go out,” he said.
It will be crucial to observe the youth vote. About half of Nunavut’s population is under 25 years old, although young people had the lowest voter registration in the last territorial election.
