Higher turn out at the polls for 2011?

[Roger Steele]

I'm curious to see the % of Canadians that show up to make their vote count this year. In our small town in Alberta the polls were busy all day. Far better turnout than in years gone by. Is this happening across Canada?

[Bryan]

The poll I scrutineered at had only 50% of eligible voters show up. It'll be interesting to see if the advanced polls made the difference.

[Dave_ON]

According to Mansbridge it was higher than 2008 at around 61% but lower than what we traditionally see in the high 60's.

[ninjandrew]

If politically aware people, even modestly politically aware people were the only ones to vote, I wonder what the turnout would be.

Edmonton was only 56% (+2%)

Alberta also 56% (+3%)

Edited May 3, 2011 by ninjandrew

[Tilter]

The right people turned out, enuf to chuck a couple of "leaders" out into the cold--- Even after this liberal disaster the professor Still had a 20 minute eulogy for the party, the party's hopes and his stay in Canada.

I didn't see anything from Duceppe and his grand results--- like I said yesterday, they handed him his ass on a platter.

It would be interesting to see the stats on youth turnout--- that section of voters (or non-voters) who are always bitching about the government (G20 display of civic responsibility) but never seem to try to do anything about it.

I am truly ashamed of the 39 or 40% who decided it wasn't worthwhile tom exercise their franchise--- I hope they were all Bloc & liberal.

I guess the CPC should have had greater numbers turn out in the one riding the NDP won in Alberta, the low turnout was all the CPC needed elsewhere.

Edited May 3, 2011 by Tilter

[Dave_ON]

I am truly ashamed of the 39 or 40% who decided it wasn't worthwhile tom exercise their franchise--- I hope they were all Bloc & liberal.

I agree but I do understand why many of them don't vote. Many of the folk I talk to are apolitical actually. They don't follow politics at all and feel they don't understand it and therefore don't vote. They're also don't feel there is much difference between political parties and one is as good as the other. I also suspect many that don't vote are somewhat disenfranchised with democracy in general.