Some First Nations face ballot shortages

First Nations in Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan ran out of ballots, according to reports from Elections Canada, journalists and voters.

Elections Canada reported Monday evening that the SikSika First Nation in Alberta had run out of ballots, and the returning officer had left to retrieve more. Polling officials contacted Elections Canada as soon as ballots ran out, reported Brandi Morin of APTN.

Polls ran out in SikSika at approximately 4 p.m. MT, Global News reported. Voters said online that only 400 to 500 ballots were available for the community of 6,000. Elections Canada said the voting disruption lasted about 15 minutes, Global reported, while member Brian Little Chief said it was a half hour.

Sources in Split Lake in Manitoba, Big River First Nation in Saskatchewan, Moose Factory in Ontario and Shoal Lake in Ontario have also reported ballot shortages, APTN said on Twitter.

And Wab Kinew, an author and educator, posted on Facebook that his polling station in Onigaming First Nation, in northwestern Ontario, had run out of ballots and more had to be retrieved by Elections Canada.

Voter turnout also appears to be high in Iqaluit, according to early reports from CBC News.

CTV reporter Jill Macyshon tweeted that some remote First Nations are contacting Elections Canada to see if photocopying ballots is an option.

Elections Canada was aware of the shortages and enacting emergency contingency plans, a representative told the National Post. According to official election rules, the local election chief can photocopy blank ballots if voter demand requires it.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde has advocated for higher turnout at the polls from aboriginal Canadians throughout the campaign, voting himself for the first time in a federal election during advance polling last Monday.

“Maintaining the status quo is not acceptable,” Bellegarde said Monday evening on CBC News. “Remember we did not get the right to vote until 1960. I think we need to harness that political power.”

The AFN previously highlighted 51 seats where First Nations turnout could have a significant influence.