(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Elections

Re-vote ordered at Pelican Narrows, following premature ballot count

Apr 15, 2021 | 9:37 AM

Just 48 hours after members across the various communities of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) went to the polls, there’s controversy surrounding one set of results.

Members were advised Monday – the day before the election – that all communities with the exception of Sturgeon Landing would be allowed to vote. Due to an outbreak of COVID-19 within that northern reserve, all election activities there were postponed.

Head Electoral Officer Burke Ratte advised members all the ballots across PBCN (Chief, Councillors, and Elders Council) “will not be counted until Sturgeon Landing reserve has completed their election activities.”

Despite this notice, ballots were still counted at Pelican Narrows and family members shared the results of the councillor vote on social media. According to a statement Wednesday night from Ratte, all the ballots cast at Pelican Arrows are not official, and a re-vote will take place.

“All communities except Pelican Narrows respected my decision to hold off on the ballot count and all ballot boxes in the communities except Pelican Narrows have been secured at the local RCMP Detachments,” he said.

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Ratte explained that in the case of Pelican Narrows, one election official failed to follow the directions and proceeded to open the ballot boxes and count the ballots.

“The same election official further did not follow the correct procedure and it is unknown which Electors in Pelican Narrows voted in both the Advance Poll and the Election Poll or whether the ballots were properly counted or secured as required by the PBCN Election Code,'” he said.

Ratte did not say when the re-vote would take place, indicating only it may occur on the same dates as Sturgeon Landing Reserve. Ratte previously explained the initial decision to postpone activity at Sturgeon Landing, was based on advice from medical professionals.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell