After consulting with and receiving consensus from members of the Nunatsiavut Assembly, First Minister Tyler Edmunds announced today that the election for President of Nunatsiavut, scheduled for May 5, 2020, has been postponed until October 6, 2020.
“It is important that the election for President be held and that it is properly conducted in accordance with the spirit, intent and requirements of the Labrador Inuit Constitution and the Nunatsiavut Elections Act,” notes the First Minister. “In light of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the inability to access appropriate polling areas, uncertainties respecting timely mail delivery for mail-in ballots, and also the imposition of requirements on public gatherings and physical distancing have resulted in the reality that it is not possible to hold the election in the immediate future. Therefore, there is no choice but to postpone the election to a time when it is hoped the public health situation has improved.”
The Presidential Election Order, 2020, registered with the Clerk of the Nunatsiavut Assembly on March 20, announcing the May 5 election, has been rescinded, and any nomination papers that may have been filed with the Nunatsiavut Electoral Officer are deemed void and of no effect.
Nominations for the October 6 election will close at 12 noon (Atlantic Standard Time) on Tuesday, September 1, 2020.
The opening of the nomination period will be announced in due course. Any inquiries regarding the election should be directed to Nunatsiavut Elections Officer, Nannette Blake.
She can be reached at (709) 896-5683, or by email at nannette.blake@nunatsiavut.com.