Election day in the Yukon: Vote includes non-binding electoral reform question

WHITEHORSE — Yukon residents go to the polls today in a territorial election where voters are also being asked for their say on possible electoral reform.

The Yukon Liberals went into the race as a minority government holding eight out of 19 seats in the legislature, governing through an agreement with the three territorial New Democrats.

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The election represents the first substantial challenge for Liberal Premier Mike Pemberton who was elected party leader in June but does not have a seat in the legislature.

It is the first territorial election with 21 ridings after several boundaries were redrawn, but the Liberals were only able to find 18 candidates to go up against full slates from the NDP and the Opposition Yukon Party.

NDP Leader Kate White or Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon would become the first Yukon-born premier to run the territory if either of their parties form government.

Yukoners will also be asked to vote in a non-binding plebiscite on whether to change the current first-past-the-post electoral system to ranked ballots.

Health care, housing and the economy were some of the key issues during the month-long campaign, with promises ranging from hospital expansions to funding post-secondary education for health-care and education workers who agree to stay in the territory after graduation.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2025

The Canadian Press