Neutrality and non-partisanship are crucial to the performance of a Returning Officer (RO). There are 19 Returning Officers, one for each Electoral District in the NWT. Each RO is the primary contact person for voters and candidates in their electoral district. During an election, ROs will field many questions from election workers, Candidates, and Official Agents about the rules of conduct during an election campaign, and work closely with the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer to help people understand the electoral process and the importance of maintaining the integrity of the electoral system.

Overall duties of each Returning Officer include:

• appointing election workers;
• dividing the electoral district into polling divisions;
• revising the voters list;
• approving candidate nominations;
• directing the administration of the ballot; and
• conducting an official addition of the votes cast for each candidate.