Key Dates and Deadlines (UPDATED)
Key Dates for Candidates and their Teams:
UPDATED: Acting upon a recommendation by the Chief Electoral Officer of the Northwest Territories that the upcoming territorial general election be delayed due to unprecedented wildfire activity in the Northwest Territories during the summer of 2023, the Legislative Assembly of the NWT met in Inuvik on August 28, 2023, to pass legislation to delay the General Election until November 14, 2023. This six-week delay will have a knock-on effect for all key election dates:
The writs will be issued on Monday, October 16, 2023.
Nomination Period:
Monday, October 16, at 10:00am to Friday, October 20, at 2:00 pm
Deadline to Withdraw Candidacy:
Friday, October 20, at 5:00pm
Campaign Contributions:
Accepting Contributions may begin as soon as a Returning Officer has accepted a candidate’s Nomination Paper.
Campaign Spending:
The pre-election spending period also shifts six weeks, now beginning on July 16th instead of June 4th.
Note that as the Chief Electoral Officer does not have the authority to extend the pre-election period to encompass the entire period of June 4th to October 15th, any money spent between June 4th and July 16th is no longer to be considered pre-election spending, and is not eligible for reimbursement, from either campaign resources or under the rebate program.
As well, any money spent between June 4th and July 16th is not counted towards the $30,000 spending limit.
Campaign Material:
All advertising must indicate who sponsored it.
During the election period, only the Official Agent for a candidate may sponsor advertising materials on behalf of a candidate.
Example: Authorized by [Name of Official Agent], Official Agent for [Name of Candidate], [Campaign Phone Number]
If the advertising is from a registered third party, the election advertising must have the third party's name and contact information, and it must indicate that the third party has authorized the advertising.
Removal:
All campaign material on public property must be removed by 14 days after Election Day.
Voting Opportunities:
Absentee Ballot Voting:
Applications for Absentee Ballots may be made from October 3 to 2pm on November 4, 2023.
Voting Begins: Tuesday, October 24 at 10:00am
Voting Ends: All votes must be received by Tuesday, November 14 (Ordinary Polling Day) at 8:00pm
Voting in the Office of the Returning Officer for your electoral district:
Begins: Tuesday, October 24
Ends: Saturday, November 11
Advance Polls:
Advance polls will be held in communities the week of November 7 - 10
Mobile Polls:
You can apply for a mobile poll from October 31 – November 3.
Mobile polls will be conducted the week of November 7 - 10
Election Day is Tuesday, November 14, from 9:00am - 8:00pm
Financial Reporting:
Candidate’s Financial Report and all reporting is due 60 business days following Election Day (on or before Thursday, January 18, 2023)