A polling place in downtown Whitehorse for the 2025 territorial election. Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke/CKRW.
Whitehorse, YT – Yukon voters are going to the polls today in a territorial election that includes a rare plebiscite on electoral reform.
This is the first election with 21 ridings after boundary changes. The Yukon Liberals enter the race as a minority government, holding eight of 19 seats, with Premier Mike Pemberton leading the party despite not having a seat in the legislature.
NDP Leader Kate White and Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon could become the first Yukon-born premiers if their parties win.
Key issues during the campaign included health care, housing and the economy. On the plebiscite, voters will be asked whether to move from first-past-the-post to a ranked ballot system, which is the first vote of this kind in over a century.
Advance polls and special ballots show over 22.5 per cent of registered voters have already cast ballots. Chief Electoral Officer Maxwell Harvey told CKRW in a previous interview that the historic plebiscite could push turnout even higher.
“It’s kind of historic with the plebiscite vote. They will get two ballots for the first time here. It’s of national interest and they’ll get a chance to have a voice going forward with the potential for electoral reform,” said Harvey. “Hopefully, that will inspire the turnout.”
Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. Voters need either one government-issued ID with a photo and address, two pieces of ID with one showing their address, or can declare their information in writing with a vouching elector.
Voter information cards, which list polling locations, candidates and the plebiscite question, were mailed with that info also available at Elections Yukon’s website.
