FOG BLOG CANADA LOG: NORTH WEST TERRETORIES VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS!

N.W.T. voters go to polls today in territorial election

It’s voting day in the N.W.T. Here’s what you need to know to get your ballot in this election It's voting day in the N.W.T., as residents decide who will make up the territory's 20th Legislative Assembly.

Polls open at 9 a.m. in 16 of the territory's 19 ridings. The other three ridings had candidates who were acclaimed: Caitlin Cleveland in Kam Lake, Caroline Wawzonek in Yellowknife South, and Jane Weyallon Armstrong in Monfwi.

Fifty-three candidates are competing for the other seats.

The election comes more than a month later than originally planned. It had been scheduled for Oct. 3, but MLAs voted in August to postpone it as the territory was then dealing with devastating wildfires and widespread community evacuations.

Some residents have already voted. As of Friday, 2,382 of the 25,856 registered voters had cast ballots.

Whatever the outcome of the election, some things are already certain: there will be at least a handful of new MLAs, and there will also be a new premier.

Five of the territory's ridings do not have an incumbent candidate on the ballot, including Range Lake which was represented by former premier Caroline Cochrane. She decided not to run for reelection as MLA.