Voter turnout swells in Saskatchewan

More than 550,000 people in Saskatchewantook part in the democratic process that saw Justin Trudeauelected as the next prime minister of Canada.

Numbers from Elections Canada show that 72.1 per cent of the eligible voters in the province cast a ballot in the election. That's up from66 per cent in 2011.

Overall, Saskatoon saw better turnout than Regina, with two of its ridings hitting close to 80 per cent. Regina's ridings hovered closer to 75. However, Saskatoon also saw the riding with the lowest voter turnout: Saskatoon West.

The highest voter turnout was in Saskatoon-Grasswood where turnout hit 78.36 per cent. That riding saw Conservative Kevin Waugh elected as the new MP for the area.

Here's how that breaks down riding by riding.*

Battlefords-Lloydminster

• 67.71 per cent
• 33,693 of 49,763 eligible voters

Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek

• 72.96 per cent
• 40,165 of 55,048 eligible voters

Cypress Hills-Grasslands

• 71.8 per cent
• 36,208 of 50,426 eligible voters

DesnethMissinippiChurchill River

• 68.1per cent
• 30,192 of 44,320 eligible voters
• DesnethMissinippiChurchill River was the second closest race in country

Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan

• 73.0per cent
• 41,965 of 57,471eligible voters

Prince Albert

• 69.8per cent
• 39,520 of 56,563eligible voters

Regina-Lewvan

• 74.8per cent
• 47,826 of 63,894eligible voters
• Regina-Lewvan was the fifth tightest race in the country.

Regina-Qu-Appelle

• 69.5 per cent
• 36,975 of 53,204eligible voters

Regina-Wascana

• 75.4 per cent
• 42,718 of 56,656eligible voters

Saskatoon West

• 67.49 per cent
• 37,715 of 55,886eligible voters
• Lowest voter turn out in the province

Saskatoon-Grasswood

• 78.3per cent
• 46,085 of 58,810eligible voters
• Highest voter turn out in the province

Saskatoon-University

• 78.1per cent
• 44,776 of 57,274eligible voters

Souris-Moose Mountain

• 72.0per cent
• 37,516 of 52,093eligible voters

Yorkton-Melville

• 68.0per cent
• 36,560 of 53,694eligible voters

*Voters who registered on election day were not included in these totals