The Band holds an Election for Chief and Council every three years.
In the past, voters have requested mail-in ballots or voted at polling stations in each of the nine Wards.
During the 2018 election, Qalipu held a referendum vote to amend the Election Code. 75% of voters voted in favour of changing the way we hold elections; instead of mail-in ballots and polling stations, voters will now be asked to vote online or over the phone.
Find a copy of the Election Code here: https://qalipu.ca/qalipu-election-2021/#1611931747908-9b71716b-5ba6
Going forward, voters will receive an information package in the mail containing a secure PIN that they will use to vote either online or over the phone.
We will not be able to reach voters who do not have a current mailing address listed on their ginu membership profile. However, these individuals will have the opportunity to dial a toll-free number and obtain a PIN after verifying their membership identity once the Election has been called.
Question: What can I do to make sure I receive my voter information package in the mail?
Answer: We need your correct mailing address. Please register your current information by completing the Voter Registration Form or by updating your ginu membership profile on your own.
Question: When is the Election?
Answer: A call for nominations will take place in early September 2021. Voting will take place over the course of a seven-day window leading up to end of voting and announcement of winners on October 22.
Question: Who is eligible to vote in the upcoming Election?
Answer: Every Band member who is age 18 + at the date of the election is eligible to vote regardless of their location.
Question: Who will we be voting for during the Election?
Answer: The positions of Chief, Western Vice Chief, Central Vice Chief and Ward Councilors for each of the nine Wards (Flat Bay, St. George’s, Stephenville, Port au Port, Corner Brook, Benoit’s Cove, Grand Falls-Windsor, Glenwood, and Gander Bay).
Question: Can I vote on all of these?
Answer: Voters will vote on the positions of Chief, Vice Chief for their region only, and Ward Councilor for their Ward only.
Question: If I do not live in a Ward, will I still be able to vote for a Ward Councilor?
Answer: If the voter does not live in a Ward community, they will have the opportunity to vote in the last Ward community in which they lived. If the voter has never lived in a Ward community, we will look at substantive community connection to determine your voting Ward. In most cases, this has been previously determined by data provided during the application process. For a small number of others who were more recently accepted into the Band, we will ask about your community connection, or the community to which you tie your Mi’kmaq ancestry in order to determine your substantive community connection.
Question: Can I vote at a polling station or request a mail-in-ballot?
Answer: no, voting will be done using a secure PIN that will be sent to you in the mail. You will then have a seven-day window in which to vote online or over the phone.
Question: Why am I expected to vote this way? Why did things change?
Answer: During the 2018 election, Qalipu held a referendum vote to amend the Election Code. 75% of voters voted in favour of changing the way we hold elections; instead of mail-in ballots and polling stations, voters will now be asked to vote online or over the phone.
Question: What if I have trouble voting online or over the phone? Will there be help available?
Answer: Yes, there will be a toll-free support line you can contact for assistance. We also expect that the Electoral Officer may put people in place for in-person support at our Band office locations.
If you have additional questions, please email them to communications@qalipu.ca
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