The 2004 Nunavut general election was held on February 16, 2004, to elect the 19 members of the 2nd Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
Premier Paul Okalik asked for the five-year-old territory's first parliament to be dissolved on January 16.
The territory operates on a consensus government system with no political parties; the premier is subsequently chosen by and from the MLAs. There were 11,285 registered voters at the time of the election call.
Issues
Issues at the election included:
- the size of the civil service;
- the territory's Human Rights Act;
- education;
- language and culture.
Results
Elections were held in 18 of the 19 electoral districts. Rankin Inlet North acclaimed its MLA. The following is a list of the districts with their candidates.
{| border=1 class="wikitable"
|-
! District
! Incumbent
! Elected
! Percentage
! Defeated candidates
|-
| Akulliq
| Ovide Alakannuark
| Steve Mapsalak
| 34.86%
| George Bohlender, Joani Kringayark, John Ningark, Roland Tungilik
|-
| Amittuq
| Enoki Irqittuq
| Louis Tapardjuk
| 39.63%
| Solomon Allurut, Enoki Irqittuq
|-
| Arviat
|Kevin O'Brien
| David Alagalak
| 36.53%
| Peter Alareak, Peter Two Aulatjut, Kevin O'Brien, Jay Saint, Kono Tattuinee
|-
| Baker Lake
| Glenn McLean
| David Simailak
| 48.22%
| David Aksawnee, Becky Kudloo, David Toolooktook Sr.
|-
| Cambridge Bay
| Kelvin Ng
| Keith Peterson
| 54.09%
| Harry Ambrose M. Aknavigak, David Kaosoni, Harry Maksagak
|-
| Hudson Bay
|Peter Kattuk
| Peter Kattuk
| 42.76%
|Moses Appaqaq, Joe Arragutainaq, Kupapik Ningeocheak, Johnny Tookalook
|-
| Iqaluit Centre
| Hunter Tootoo
| Hunter Tootoo
| 44.8%
| Natsiq Alainga-Kango, Mike Courtney, Kevin MacCormack, Pauloosie Paniloo, Mary Ellen Thomas
|-
| Iqaluit East
| Ed Picco
| Ed Picco
| 70.68%
| John Amagoalik, Norman Ishulutak
|-
| Iqaluit West
| Paul Okalik
| Paul Okalik
| 76.99%
| Doug Workman
|-
| Kugluktuk
| Donald Havioyak
| Joe Allen Evyagotailak
| 40.41%
| Donald Havioyak, Millie Kuliktana
|-
| Nanulik
| Patterk Netser
| Patterk Netser
| 34.92%
| Emily Beardsall, Willy Nakoolak, Bernard Putulik Sr.
|-
| Nattilik
|Uriash Puqiqnak
| Leona Aglukkaq
| 42.84%
| Tom Akoak, Anthony Anguttitauruq, David Irqiut, Simon Qingnaqtuq, Sonny Porter, Ruediger H.J. Rasch
|-
| Pangnirtung
| Peter Kilabuk
| Peter Kilabuk
| 61.87%
| Simeonie Keenainak
|-
| Quttiktuq
| Rebekah Williams
| Levi Barnabas
| 43.94%
| Lucas Amagoalik, Pauloosie Attagootak, Larry Audlaluk, Anthony Ullikatar, Rebekah Williams
|-
| Rankin Inlet North
| Jack Anawak
| Tagak Curley
| acclaimed
| none
|-
| Rankin Inlet South/Whale Cove
| Manitok Thompson
| Levinia Brown
| 38.87%
| Jerry Ell, Percy Kabloona, Ishmael Naulalik, Solomon Voisey
|-
| South Baffin
| Olayuk Akesuk
| Olayuk Akesuk
| 58.94%
| Malicktoo Lyta, Martha Lyta
|-
| Tununiq
| Jobie Nutarak
| Jobie Nutarak
| 31.84%
| Appitaq Enuaraq, Sam Omik, David Qajaakuttuk Qamaniq
|-
| Uqqummiut
| David Iqaqrialu
| James Arreak
| 27.06%
| Stevie Audlakiak, Phoebe Palluq Hainnu, Peter Iqalukjuak, David Iqaqrialu, Samuel Nuqingaq, Lootie Toomasie
|}
Source: Results (CBC News)
In the main, Nunavummiut decided to stay with their present legislature. The premier, four cabinet ministers, and three other MLAs were re-elected; five incumbents were defeated, including former speaker of the house Kevin O'Brien. Only two women were elected to the 19-seat legislature.
Premier Paul Okalik was given a firm endorsement by the voters in his riding. He faced a strong challenge for the premier's job from Tagak Curley, who was acclaimed to his seat. However, Okalik was returned to the premiership on March 5, 2004, by the new legislature.[http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/03/05/canada/nunavut_premier040305]
Miscellaneous
For the first time, residents of several tiny, isolated communities were able to vote by satellite phone.
Voter turnout was nearly 90%; in 8 of the 18 ridings it was higher than 100% (as high as 134% in Kugluktuk) since there was no door-to-door enumeration and voter registration is permitted at the polling station. As of 2025, this is the only election in which voter turnout increased from the previous election.