Candidates, expert surprised by voter turnout of only 44%

Ottawa had one of the higher voter turnouts for municipal elections across the province on Monday night, but the city still only saw 44 per cent of eligible voterscast a ballot.

That's up from the 42.5 per cent turnout in Ottawa's 2018 municipal election, but means only 316,260 of the city's 722,227 eligible voters went to the polls this year, according to Elections Ottawa's preliminary numbers.

If compared to other cities, however, that's a lot. Toronto, Oakville, Newmarket and Londonhad under 30 per cent voter turnout, while Windsor saw 31.5 per cent.

Early numbers from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario show 36 per cent turnout across 301 of 444 municipalities that held local elections.

Some expertswere expecting a higher turnout after seeingrecord-breaking turnout foradvanced polls. Another reason expected to draw voters was the first competitive mayor's racein12 years as incumbent Jim Watson was not seeking re-election.

• Ottawa's 2022 municipal election by the numbers

Rideau-Vanierward hadthelowest turnoutwith just 37 per cent.

"It's not very many votes at all," said ward candidate Laura Shantz, who lost toStphanie Planteby 323 votesMonday night."I think that in itself contributed to the results we saw."

Zachary Spicer, an associate professor with YorkUniversity's School of Public Policy said while he is somewhat surprised, municipal elections typically seethe lowest civic engagement.

He says people feel a disconnect between the problems they face and what city council can do about them.

"Alot of the major issues that are front and centre for a lot of people right now are inflation, cost of living, economy, jobs concern, still wondering about COVID, the war in Ukraine," Spicer said.

"There's a lot of stuff happening out there which I think[is] affecting people. Obviously none of those issues can really be solved at the municipal level."

WATCH | The pros and cons of not having political parties:

Ottawa residents, public policy professor comment on low voter turnout

2 years ago

Duration 1:06

Some Ottawa residents shared their reasons for not voting this year and public policy researcher Zachary Spicer explains without political parties as "shortcuts" voters have to "do a lot of homework" for municipal elections.

Mark Sutcliffe, who Ottawans elected Monday as the city's new mayor,was also surprised by the low turnout.

"When I was talking to people over the last week, I felt a strong sense of engagement in the election. You're always going to encounter people who aren't paying attention, but for the most part I ran into people and knocked on doors and heard a response that they're going to vote."

Sutcliffe, speaking to CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning, said he understands it's part of a larger trend of low turnout, but feels humbled by the fact that more than161,000 people did vote for him.

Residents weigh in

Then there's simply the matter of convenience.

"I go to school and I have midterms," said Ottawa resident Francis Kara on why he didn't vote. "I don't have the time."

Mariah Fridgensaid she wanted to vote, but felt she didn't know enough about the candidates.

"I think a lot of young people are the same way they just get stuck in their everyday lives and don't think about it and then it comes time and then it's like 'I haven't looked into any of these people,'" she said.

Others suggest they would vote if there was a possibility of casting a ballot online.

Ontario hasoffered the option formunicipal elections for about two decades now, but there's no provincial standardfor conductingonline polls.

If a municipality opts to use an alternative method, like Belleville, Brockville and Kingston do to some extent,itis left to set up its own voting guidelinesusing a vendor of its choice.

Spicer said it's an option Ottawa should consider if it wants more people to participate in municipal elections.