St. Mary’s First Nation Elections
St. Mary’s First Nation (Sitansisk Elections) will be held on October 7, 2026. This is our first election held under the First Nations Elections Act.
Where Can I Vote?
St. Mary’s band members over the age of 18 can vote three ways. Please bring your ID to vote:
- Election Day: Wednesday, Oct. 7 (9 a.m.to 8 p.m.) at the Maqiyahtimok Centre
- Advance Polls: Sunday, Sept. 27 (9 a.m. to 8 p.m.) at the Maqiyahtimok Centre
- Mail-in Ballots: You must request a ballot with a Request-A-Ballot Form and a copy of your ID. Once your ballot is sent to you, mail it back before Oct. 7, following the instructions in the ballot package.
Overview of Changes
St. Mary’s First Nation (Sitansisk) voted to switch to the First Nations Election Act in 2024 to modernize our elections process. This changes some aspects of our election process.
Some of the main changes are:
- More mail-in ballot accountability
- A live count
- Provisions for recounts
- Changing from a two-year term to a four-year term
- Changing nomination processes and limits (one nomination per each position)
For a complete list of changes, click here.
FAQ
Who is running in this year’s election?
Click here for the full candidates list.
How do mail-in ballots work? How do I request a mail-in ballot?
If you haven’t received a Request-for-Ballot Form in the mail yet, please email sarharose@hotmail.com. You must request a mail-in ballot with a copy of your ID to receive one in the mail. The last day to request one is Oct. 1 and you must send in the ballot to ensure it reaches St. Mary’s First Nation by election day on Oct. 7. More instructions are available in your ballot package.
For a detailed instructional guide, click here.
Does everyone have to request a ballot?
No. If you are able to vote in-person on Oct. 7 or Sept. 27, then you can vote in person with a piece of ID.
Why do nominated candidates have to pay a $200 fee?
The $200 deposit is returned to the candidate if they receive more than 5% of ballots cast. It will be up to Chief and Council what happens to the money in the case they get less than 5% of the vote. Every election campaign typically includes a time and resources investment from the candidate, whether it’s printing brochures, posting online, or going door to door. Since candidates only need two nominations to be on the ballot, this $200 fee ensures that the candidates who are on the ballot are committed to the investment to campaign and to lead this community if elected.
The $200 fee was implemented due to the new legislation when the Chief and Council voted to move from the Indian Act: Elections to the First Nations Elections Act in 2024.
Why the changes?
These changes were implemented when the Chief and Council of St. Mary’s First Nation voted to move from the Indian Elections Act to the First Nations Elections Act in 2024. The First Nations Elections Act was passed in 2014 by the federal government, but a band can opt into the plan at the request of council and Chief. The First Nations Elections Act changes the two-year term to a four-year term, changes nomination processes and limits (you can nominate up to 12 councillors (one per each position) and 1 chief), and allows advance polls and recounts, and more. Sarah Rose is the electoral officer and can be reached at sarharose@hotmail.com.
What type of ID should I bring to vote?
ID can be your status card, driver’s licence, health card, or another piece of official government ID.
Watch the Information Session
The information session is 17 minutes long, with a Q and A at the end covering mail-in ballots, the live count, and more. Live stream has been edited for length and file size.