No errors found in By-Election

10/22/2019

Forwarded on behalf of the Electoral Officer

Electoral Officer Angus L. Montour wishes to follow up with the community on the results of an inquiry into a possible technical issue at the October 19, 2019 By-Election, which resulted in a two-ballot discrepancy in the Official Results.

It has been determined that the cause was the inadvertent failure of a polling clerk to properly ‘unpin’ an elector’s name after the ballot was returned and deposited into the ballot box.

The battery depletion of one laptop terminal has been ruled out as a reason, as first thought.

‘Pinning’ simply means that an elector’s record remains opened – or ‘pinned’ – during the ballot issue and voting process and is closed – or unpinned – when the ballot has been cast.  This process, when completed correctly, strikes the elector’s name from the electoral list.

The important factor is that the physical number of ballots issued and returned were the same.

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For further information, please contact:
Angus L. Montour, Electoral Officer
Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke By-Election
Cellular: 514-442-9114
Email: angus.montour@kahnawakeelections.com