The first members of Nunavut’s seventh legislative assembly are now being named.
Tununiq, which covers the hamlet of Pond Inlet, is the first constituency of the evening with a winner.
Brian Koonoo has been elected with a 50 per cent share of the votes.
Results are also coming in from a few other constituencies, including Aivilik, Amittuq, Netsilik, Quttiktuq, Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet and Uqqummiut.
There are no votes in two constituencies because the candidates, including former government house leader David Joanasie, were acclaimed.
Polls closed at 7 p.m. in each of the region’s three timezones.
As a consensus-style government, there are no political parties and candidates run as independents.
Members of cabinet are chosen after the general election. Newly-elected MLAs gather to select the Speaker, premier and ministers, in a secret-ballot election.
According to Elections Nunavut’s results page, there are roughly 17,000 registered voters.
Results by constituency will be updated here in English, and here in Inuktitut, as they come in.
Will Nunavut reverse the trend in voter turnout?
Voter turnout has been steadily declining since the first Nunavut general election in 1999. Less than half of eligible voters cast a ballot in 2021, compared to 86 per cent in 1999.
Speaking to CBC News ahead of election day, Manitok Thompson, one of Nunavut’s first MLAs, said she, alongside other Nunavummiut, were so excited about the territory when it was first created.
But fast forward to 2025, she said the government’s slow progress on important issues like the high cost of living and a housing crisis is fuelling voter apathy.
“I think they are not seeing any changes that are from their basic needs. Those are the people that go out to vote, but they’re not going out anymore,” she said.
The youth vote will be a crucial one to watch. About half of Nunavut’s population is under 25 years of age, though the last territorial election saw youth had the lowest voter registration.
