In the upcoming territorial election, Yukoners will receive an additional ballot asking the following question: “Should the way members of the Yukon Legislative Assembly are elected be changed from the current system of first past the post to a different system of ranked vote?” Yes or No.

A plebiscite is a public vote that asks citizens for their opinion on a question posed by government. This non-binding vote does not result in an immediate change but helps to gauge what Yukoners think about potentially changing the voting system. It provides an opportunity for the public to offer input on electoral reform before any final decisions are made.

The Chief Electoral Officer, as head of Elections Yukon and a non-partisan office of the Legislative Assembly, will administer the plebiscite and provide non-partisan information to the public. The Government of Yukon will continue to remain neutral during this process.

To learn more about plebiscites, the question or the process, visit electionsyukon.ca/plebiscite.

Quick facts

• The all-party Special Committee on Electoral Reform was established on May 26, 2021. The committee’s mandate was to examine electoral reform and report to the Legislative Assembly its findings and recommendations.
• The final report from the Yukon Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform was tabled on October 28, 2024, and recommended that the Yukon move to a ranked ballot voting system.
• The Yukon’s current voting system is first-past-the-post. This means that the candidate in each riding who receives the most votes wins, even if they do not receive an absolute majority (over 50 percent). Government is then decided from number of party members voted in.
• A ranked vote system lets voters list candidates in order of preference instead of choosing just one.
• The Elections Act states that an election must be held by November 3, 2025. However, it can be held earlier than the set date.

Media contact

Keshah Austin
Executive Council Office, Communications
867-332-9283
[email protected]

News release #:
25-332

Related information:
Plebiscite—November 2025
New regulation approved under Plebiscite Act