2006 Municipal Election – Voter Turnout by Ward
Here are some figures from the 2006 Municipal Election. As you can see, our voter turnout was pretty abysmal. Let’s try to add 20% to these numbers this year:
| Ward | Voter Turnout | |
| 1 | 43% | |
| 2 | 44% | |
| 3 | 32% | |
| 4 | 34% | |
| 5 | 34% | |
| 6 | 22% | |
| 7 | 31% | |
| 8 | 32% | |
| 9 | 41% | |
| 10 | 40% |
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About Greg: Greg Hluska is an early 30s Regina guy. By day, he works in User Experience in a technology company and by night, he is an avid reader/writer who helps publish the Regina Streets Magazine. |
I’m actually pretty horrified that there are so many people being acclaimed to their positions. I’m not sure if there are more than past elections, but I find the disinterest in politics concerning.
One topic that interests me is the question of is this just a postmodern effect of western liberal society? It is often argued that people vote governments out, not in. Could there be a ‘tyranny of the majority’ in that people are not voting because they don’t want change or that the status quo is not worth sacrificing for the risks involved with change? I think it would be a worthy endeavour for a political scientist to examine stats on local elections to find out who, and what groups are/are not voting.
Excellent points, Shane – the lack of interest in politics is quite distressing. I was at a party on Friday night, where I conducted a non-scientific poll. Of the 19 – 23 year olds I spoke to, very few even knew there was a municipal election going on, and not a single person planned to vote.
Reasons included, “why would I give a f**k about this city when they clearly don’t give a f**k about me?”; “politicians are liars and cheats, so why would I bother?”; “I don’t care”; and “my politics are not represented, so why would I vote for someone who disgusts me”.
I’m curious what elections will look like in 40 years, when that group is firmly entrenched at the peak of its political power…….