Yukon Elections: Mail-Out Special Ballots Open Sept. 29

UPDATE: Yukon voters can soon apply for mail-out special ballots starting on September 29, 2023. This development comes as Premier Mike Pemberton must call elections by the end of October 3 to ensure voting occurs on or before November 3.

If elections are announced prior to the application opening, voters can still request mail-out special ballots on demand, according to an urgent press release from Elections Yukon. On the day of the election call, special ballot kits will be dispatched to early applicants, ensuring voters have the opportunity to cast their votes even if they are traveling out of the territory.

The mail-out special ballot kits will include two ballots: one for the territorial election for Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and another for a crucial plebiscite. Voters will decide whether to retain the current first-past-the-post system or switch to a ranked voting system.

Chief Electoral Officer Maxwell Harvey emphasized the importance of this process, stating, “By special ballot, electors can write the name of the candidate, even though they’re not nominated.” However, he cautioned that if a candidate written on the ballot is not formally nominated by the election date, that MLA vote will be invalid, although the plebiscite vote will still count.

Electors must be diligent in returning their completed ballots to Elections Yukon in Whitehorse. Options include mailing them back, delivering them in person to local returning offices, or dropping them off at designated drop boxes, such as the one at the Jim Smith Building.

It’s critical for voters to consider mailing times, as once a mail-out special ballot application is approved, that elector is deemed to have voted. This means they cannot vote in person at advance polls, on polling day, or at a returning office by special ballot.

The deadline for early bird applications is 19 days after the writ is issued, ensuring ample time for mail delivery and ballot returns. Voters can apply for in-person special ballots at returning offices after the election call, which will be available until the Friday before Election Day.

With the electoral process rapidly approaching, Yukoners are urged to stay informed and prepared. For more information, including how to apply for mail-out special ballots, visit the Elections Yukon website. This is a pivotal moment for the territory, as voter engagement will shape its political landscape.

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