Ontario voter turnout highest since 1999

Thestar.com
June 8, 2018
Sabrina Nanji

Ontarians turned up at the polls like it was 1999.

At 58 per cent, voter turnout for Ontario’s 42nd general election was the strongest in nearly two decades, according to unofficial results published on Elections Ontario’s website as of Friday afternoon.

That’s more than 5.7 million of the 10.2 million eligible to vote, and a milestone for Ontario, which has never had more than 5 million people show up in a provincial election.

Just over half -- 51 per cent -- cast ballots in 2014, a slight uptick from the 48 per cent who did in 2011, which are the two lowest turnout rates in Ontario election history. The highest turnout ever recorded was 74.4 per cent in 1898. Turnout hovered above 60 per cent for most of the 1970s and 1980s until 1999, when it dropped to 58.3 per cent and ex-Conservative premier Mike Harris got a second mandate.

More people than usual cast their ballots before E-Day too.

About 768,895 people voted at advanced polling stations between May 26 and June 1, compared to 647,261 who voted early in 2014, according to Elections Ontario. That’s roughly 13 per cent of the total ballots cast.

For the first time, people voted using electronic tabulating machines and e-poll books, a digital version of the voters’ list.

Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa said the new technology helped improve the voting and counting process.

“We are proud that our measured and principled approach to modernization made voting even easier for many electors across the province, while maintaining the integrity and security of our elections,” Essensa said in a news release.

The Progressive Conservatives handily formed a majority government in Thursday’s election, winning 76 seats with 40.4 per cent of the popular vote. The NDP, now in official opposition, gained 33.5 per cent of total ballots cast and secured 40 seats.

The Liberals were driven out of power, falling to 19.5 per cent of the vote and seven seats, one less than what’s required to keep official party status at Queen’s Park. That’s roughly half the support the Liberals got in the last election when they swept a majority with 38.7 per cent of the vote.

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner made history by securing the pink palace’s first Green seat.

The results are unofficial until Elections Ontario releases the official tally next week. Those results will include a poll-by-poll breakdown and details on declined and spoiled ballots.