A new election in Nunavut’s Aggu riding will be held Dec. 15 after a judicial recount ended in a tie between incumbent Joanna Quassa and Erasmus Ivvalu.
New Election Called for Nunavut’s Aggu Riding Dec. 15
Recount Triggers Rare Tie Result
Residents of Igloolik, Nunavut, will return to the polls on December 15 after an unprecedented judicial recount resulted in a perfect tie between two candidates in the Aggu electoral district. Both incumbent MLA Joanna Quassa and challenger Erasmus Ivvalu received exactly 105 votes, according to the recount results confirmed by Elections Nunavut.
Close Race Prompts Repeat Vote
The Aggu riding was one of three constituencies where ballots were recounted following close results in the territorial election. While recounts in Pangnirtung and Quttiktuq confirmed Johnny Mike and Steven Taqtu as the official MLA-elects for their ridings, Aggu’s outcome remained unresolved — triggering a new election as required under Nunavut’s election laws when a tie occurs.
Impact on Legislative Timeline
The recount has created uncertainty for the Nunavut Legislative Assembly’s leadership forum, where newly elected MLAs will choose the Speaker, Premier, and Cabinet. The forum is currently scheduled for November 18, with a one-day sitting planned for November 20.
News has reached out to the Legislative Assembly to confirm whether proceedings will continue as planned without Aggu’s representative or be postponed until after the December 15 vote.
Community Prepares for Second Poll
Local election officials in Igloolik have confirmed preparations are underway for the repeat election, including staffing polling stations and re-issuing voter notifications. Voter turnout in the first election was moderate, and officials are encouraging residents to participate again to ensure Aggu has full representation in the Assembly before the end of the year.
Broader Context and Next Steps
This tie underscores the close-knit nature of Nunavut’s communities, where every single vote carries decisive weight. Once the Aggu race is settled, the new Legislative Assembly will move forward with its full complement of 22 MLAs to set priorities for the coming term — including housing, climate adaptation, and northern infrastructure development.
