Changes to election code in Attawapiskat turned down

A ratification vote to adopt a new custom election code in Attawapiskat was not accepted by chief and council due to poor voter turnout.
According to electoral officer Vaughn Johnson, a meeting of chief and council was held June 11 following the counting of the ballots to discuss the ratification vote.
Ultimately, the leadership of Attawapiskat decided not to accept the ratification vote because only 74 voters of the eligible 2,166 voters cast ballots.
“They had concerns that there is violation of voters’ rights,” Johnson said of chief and council’s decision to not accept the proposed election code.
However, the majority of the 74 voters did vote in favour of adopting the new custom election code.
The ratification vote took place over the course of four days at various sites from June 7 to 10.
The new custom election code included a provision to allow for chief and council to be in office for a three-year term.
The existing traditional election customs do follow a three-year term, but is not written down.
“The people want to see something in writing to be more comfortable,” Johnson said.
The new code would have also allowed off reserve members within a 600-kilometre radius of Attawapiskat to vote in elections. Timmins off-reserve members would have become eligible to vote.
The present code only allows on-reserve members to vote, which is about 1,150 eligible voters.
The present term for chief and council will end on July 7.
A nomination meeting was held June 14 in Attawapiskat to nominate community members for chief, deputy chief and councillors.
Running for chief are John Edwards, Conrad Iahtail and Theresa Spence.
Candidates running for deputy chief are Mike Koostachin, Gerald Mattinas, and Brian Okimaw.
There are 22 community members nominated to the councillor positions.
Vaughn said elections are tentatively set to take place in early July with the existing election code.