Miscommunication among electoral officers in the Northwest Territories election Monday led to some drama in the Hay River South district, where longtime incumbent Jane Groenewegen was temporarily declared unseated by her rival.
Residents in Hay River, the second-largest community in the N.W.T., were expecting a tight race between Groenewegen and Marc Miltenberger.
Jane Groenewegen, speaking with CBC reporter Joslyn Oosenbrug in Hay River Monday night, said winning the seat after the short-lived upset 'takes the edge off the victory.'
(CBC)
As the ballots were counted and the results were sent to Yellowknife on Monday night, Miltenberger was declared the winner early in the evening, edging out Groenewegen by eight votes.
"It's been a tight race, and a lot of good people, and I'm so happy," an emotional Miltenberger said shortly after CBC Television declared him the winner around 9:45 p.m. MT.
But supporters at Groenewegen's camp were confused, as they had been waiting to hear the results of the advance polls when Miltenberger was declared the winner.
Due to a miscommunication between the electoral officers in Hay River and those in Yellowknife, the results were announced as complete without two of the three sets of ballots from "special voting opportunities" conducted before polling day.
"The preliminary results only indicated one, which was special ballots, and that was why the results came in that Mr. Miltenberger was the successful candidate. However, that failed to take into account the voting in the office of the returning officer and special mobile poll," chief electoral officer Saundra Arberry told reporters around 10:20 p.m. MT.
"All of the results are now officially in, and it turns out that Ms. Groenewegen is the successful candidate by a four per cent margin."
Groenewegen said that in all her years following politics in the N.W.T., she has never seen anything like it.
'I just feel badly about it'
"It sort of takes the edge off the victory, so to speak, because emotions are running very high, we're all very tired, it's been a long month," she said.
"I know how I would have felt if that was me and that was my family and my supporters. I just feel badly about it."
Miltenberger, who has not decided if he will run for territorial office again, said he doesn't blame the electoral officers for Monday night's mix-up.
"I'm satisfied with what the voters have said," he said. "My life goes on, and I still have my friends and family, and it's simple."
In the end, Groenewegen captured 52 per cent of the vote, followed by Miltenberger with 47 per cent. A third candidate, Greg McMeekin, secured just over one per cent of the vote.
Related
Video
- Joslyn Oosenbrug reports for CBC-TV (Runs: 2:06)
- Play: Real Media »
- Play: QuickTime »
- Saundra Arberry speaks about the Hay River South results Monday night (Runs: 1:22)
- Play: Real Media »
- Play: QuickTime »
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