Advance voting for Calgary’s municipal election has concluded, with early figures indicating a decrease in turnout compared to the previous civic election. A total of 96,549 individuals participated in the six-day advance polling period, representing a 10.7% turnout among eligible voters. The final day of voting, on Saturday, Oct. 11, saw the highest participation, with 22,144 Calgarians casting their votes.
The City of Calgary stated that the turnout numbers included various locations such as regular Advance Vote spots, hospitals, post-secondary institutions, and other designated sites. The voting totals may see slight adjustments as final calculations are completed.
Mount Royal University policy professor Lori Williams highlighted a noticeable disconnection between voters and candidates in this election cycle. A recent poll conducted by Janet Brown Opinion Research for CBC News revealed that one-third of Calgarians remain undecided regarding the mayoral race.
Williams suggested that the uncertainty could be partly attributed to the introduction of political parties, which may have added complexity to the decision-making process for voters.
Compared to the previous election in 2021, where 141,329 individuals voted early, the turnout for advance voting this year has decreased. Williams noted that the previous election was more engaging due to several factors, including the absence of an incumbent mayoral candidate and significant ballot initiatives like the fluoride plebiscite and daylight saving time referendum.
While this year’s numbers surpass early voting figures from the 2013 and 2017 elections, Williams anticipates that the overall voter turnout on election day may be lower than in previous years. Therefore, each vote is crucial in determining the election outcome.
Election day in Calgary is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 20. Voters can visit the City of Calgary website to find their designated polling station using their address.
