Early indications have HRM voter turnout below 30 per cent
Posted Oct 17, 2016 01:03:46 PM.
Last Updated Oct 17, 2016 01:06:16 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – Early indications show voter turnout in the 2016 municipal election was lower than the 36.9 per cent recorded in the 2012 race.
Early numbers, taken by comparing the number of votes for mayor to the number of eligible voters, show less than a third of eligible voters cast ballots on Saturday, with about 20,000 fewer ballots being cast in that specific race.
If that number were to hold, it would peg total voter turnout around 29.7 per cent of eligible voters, which would mean a more than seven per cent drop from four years ago.
HRM spokesperson Brendan Elliott said there would be no official comment on turnout numbers until Tuesday, when the original counts are scheduled to be confirmed.
Online and phone polling was also down to 55,788 ballots filed this election compared to 66,272 in 2012.
This Saturday marks the deadline to remove signage and file returns, next Tuesday is the last day to file for a recount and Dec. 14 is the last day to file campaign disclosure forms.
