How to vote in the 2023 N.W.T. election

The Northwest Territories chief electoral officer will issue writs of election on Monday, officially kicking off the 2023 territorial election campaign. 

Because of widespread evacuations due to wildfires this summer, the general election was postponed six weeks to Nov. 14.

But people who can't or don't want to vote in person that day, have several other options for casting a ballot. 

Here's what you need to know about voting in the 2023 N.W.T. election.

Residents should get a voter information card in their mailbox in the next couple of weeks, said Stephen Dunbar, N.W.T.'s chief electoral officer. 

That card will have the name of their returning officer, the locations of their returning office and polling place, and the different ways they can vote.

Mobile polls are available for people who can't get to their polling station, said Dunbar. 

"It could be a physical disability. It could be the fact that it is November in the Northwest Territories, so there could be a lot of snow and anyone with mobility challenges may have difficulty in getting to the polling place," he said. 

"A mobile poll brings the ballot box to you."

People can vote at the office of the returning officer in their district or the returning offices where anyone can vote — in Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith and Inuvik — from Oct. 24 to Nov. 11.

Those living in communities without a returning office can vote in an advanced poll on Nov. 7.

There are also two kinds of absentee ballots: the traditional mail-in ballot and an online ballot.

Elections NWT will send out ballots on Oct. 23 to people who sign up to vote by mail, said Dunbar. People can apply for a mail-in ballot now on Elections NWT's website.

N.W.T. residents will again have the option of voting online this year.