The Nova Scotia Teachers Union will hold a runoff vote on May 29 to elect its next president. (Ray Shrewsberry via Pixabay)

It’s down to two people vying to represent the 10,000 members of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union.

The vote for NSTU president is headed for a runoff. About 69 per cent of the union’s members cast ballots on Wednesday to elect someone to replace Ryan Lutes, who did not reoffer.

Five members ran for the two-year position. But nobody got the required majority of more than 50 per cent. So it’s now down to Peter Day, who got 44.71 per cent of the vote in the first round, and Shawn Hanifen, who garnered 25.09 per cent, according to an NSTU spokesman.

Day and Hanifen were both on the ballot in 2022, when Lutes was elected president. 

The runoff vote will be held on May 29. 

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Ryan Lutes did not reoffer as president of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union. (Nova Scotia Teachers Union YouTube channel)

The 10,000 members of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union are voting Wednesday to elect a new president.

NSTU presidents are elected to two-year terms. They can serve no more than two terms. 

Ryan Lutes was elected president in 2022. He decided not to reoffer.

Five people are running to replace Lutes. They are Peter Day, who lost to Lutes in a runoff in 2022, Nancie de la Chevotière, Grant Frost, Shawn Hanifen and Mike Kelly.

Hanifen was also on the ballot in 2022.

Polls opened at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. The union said it would announce the results at 9 p.m. Wednesday. 

To be elected president, a candidate must get more than 50 per cent of the votes. If a run-off vote is needed, it will be held May 29.