NWT election today (November 13)

[Hatman 🍁]

Good rundown of the candidates and issues here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-territorial-election-candidates-1.3288160

[Hatman 🍁]

Hmm, I hadn't realized that no premier has served for more than one term. I guess it's like Canada's Virginia in that regard.

It sucks for voters to have no idea who their Premier is going to be or how to vote to influence who it will be.

[Hatman 🍁]

Polls close in 40 minutes

[Hatman 🍁]

live stream! http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yellowknife-election-results-nwt-votes-2015-1.3331874

[Hatman 🍁]

Finally got around to doing a summary of the election: http://canadianelectionatlas.blogspot.ca/2015/11/northwest-territories-election-summary.html

[Hatman 🍁]

Is there any chance of NWT and Nunavat becoming partisan in the future, like the Yukon is?

No. We always talk about how people vote based on personalities in the north, not for parties. They do that in the Yukon too, it just so happens there are parties there.

I suspect the next move will be to have direct elections for Premier, though I am cynical about plans of electoral reform in general.

[Hatman 🍁]

Well, you need parties for any kind of proportional representation. So if the NWT does not want to go down that route, my suggestion would be to use alternative vote at the constituency level, and have a direct vote for Premier (also elected by AV). 

[Hatman 🍁]

The only form of PR which doesn't require parties is STV, which is one reason Scottish local government uses that system.  There are several Scottish councils which are dominated by independents, particularly in the Highlands and Islands.

Good point. STV has proven to be too confusing for Canadians to understand though, alas.