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There will be a new election for Deninu Kue First Nation (DKFN) council after a committee threw out the July 14 election results, concluding the election process was flawed after hearing recounts were only half done and an ineligible voter may have decided the election.

"It is the opinion of the committee that holding the July 14, 2025, election over again is the proper outcome given the fundamental flaws in the election procedures that were followed on July 14 and July 15, 2025," wrote committee chair Brenda McLuhan on Aug. 20. "The committee hereby upholds the appeals on the grounds indicated in this decision and calls for the election for two councillors that was originally held on July 14, 2025, to be redone by DKFN following the procedures specified in the regulations, with the same roster of candidates who ran in that election."

An appeal was sent to the committee by two candidates, Sharon Lafferty and Dave Pierrot, both of whom lost the election. Pierrot ended up tying for second after two partial recounts, which found him tied with Kevin Boucher with 57 votes.

In the judgment, the committee said it was informed ballots were only counted for two candidates out of four, who were vying for two vacant seats on council.

"The committee questioned the electoral officer about why a complete recount was not done and did not receive a satisfactory answer," wrote McLuhan. "She did, however, state that Mr. Pierrot was present for the recount and viewed each ballot as they were held up so that he could be sure that no votes for him were missed. That did not answer the committee鈥檚 question about why a complete recount was not done.

"The committee agreed with Mr. Pierrot that when a recount is done it should cover all candidates," McLuhan continued. "This would seem especially appropriate in an election where the votes were so close, with the front-running candidate receiving 61 votes while the two second-place candidates received 57 votes each. This flaw further justifies the re-running of the July 14, 2025, election with all of the same candidates who were on the ballot during the July 14, 2025, election."

Another issue the committee heard was that there was at least one ineligible voter who cast a ballot.

In the judgment, the Luhan stated the committee was informed that a member of Yellowknives Dene First Nation, who shares a very similar name to a member of DKFN, was able to cast a ballot after officials mistook his identity.

"The committee concluded unanimously that [the ineligible] vote was a circumstance that materially and directly affected the conduct and outcome of the election. The committee鈥檚 conclusion was based on the fact that the two second-place candidates, Kevin Boucher and Dave Pierrot, both received 57 votes each and there is no way of knowing if one of them received a vote from the ineligible voter. This flaw justifies overturning the results of the election that was held on July 14, 2025 and directing that the election be redone, following proper procedure as specified by the regulations."

A new election date has not been set.