FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Peg tells us…

In the 2010 City election, 47.1% of registered voters went out to cast their ballot.

The facts are:

•             While voter turnout in 2010 increased significantly from 38.2% in the 2006 election, it was the second-lowest voter-turnout since the 1980s.

•             Since 1995, no municipal election has had a voter turnout as high as provincial or federal voter turnouts:

            Municipal range from 1995-present: 38.2 – 53.6% turnout

            Provincial range from 1995-present:  55.6 – 71.6% turnout

            Federal range from 1995-present:  57.1 – 62.7% turnout

How are other cities doing?

•     Voter turnout rates for recent municipal elections in other cities: Vancouver 34.6% (2011),

       Calgary 39.4% (2013), Saskatoon 36.9% (2012), and Halifax 36.9% (2012).

Why does this matter?

•             Elections are the most fundamental processes of democratic engagement.   High turnouts are generally considered to be positive, as voter turnouts are a sign of the overall health of the democratic system.

•             Voter turnout varies across the population, with some groups more represented at the polls than others.  Age, education, and income are three major factors that influence voter turnout.

•             Peg data reflects only registered voters, not those eligible to vote.

* More detail and source data for the above facts available at http://www.mypeg.ca/more-info, under the Voter Turnout tab.

More facts on this subject available at: http://tinyurl.com/mks2w3f

Source of the data:  City of Winnipeg, City Clerk’s Department

For more information about voter eligibility, registration and other election questions, please contact:  http://winnipeg.ca/clerks/election/election2014/ImportantVoterInformatio... or phone 311.

Available for interviews:

On Peg                                                                                 On Voter Turnout           

Sumeep Bath                                                                     Christopher Adams, PhD

Media and Communications Officer, IISD                              Political Scientist and Author

(204) 958-7740                                                                   (204) 474-8581

[email protected]                                                                    [email protected]

On Who is Making a Difference?                                                                              

Kyle Geske

Chairperson, Open Democracy Manitoba

(204) 995-5369

[email protected]

About Peg:

Regularly, the team at Peg releases data and facts that help us understand our city better. This is one of those regular reports. Others can be found at http://www.mypeg.ca/blog.

Peg measures the health of our community year over year – in ways that count. It is the starting place for Winnipeg citizens, educators, policy makers, and many others to learn more about our city so we can lead change to create a better city for our children and their children.

At Peg we can all learn how our lives, our neighbourhood and our city is changing – for the good and the bad. Learn more at www.mypeg.ca.