CLARKWATCH: Follow news and updates regarding sanctions on Mayor Clark.

Low voter turnout in Medicine Hat and other municipalites

Oct 17, 2017 | 6:36 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Voter turnout in Medicine Hat was very low this election.

Of the eligible 50,000 voters, only 17,308 cast a ballot.

That’s a turnout of 34.6 per cent, down from 40.2 per cent in 2013.

Returning officer Angela Cruickshank said she wasn’t aware of a civic election here in Medicine Hat with a lower voter turnout.

Past municipal election information from 2001 to 2013 is posted on the Government of Alberta website.

It shows turnout since 2001 has been as high as 49.3 percent in 2001, and as low as 38.2 percent in 2010.

Compared to other similar sized municipalities, Medicine Hat’s turn out tends to be higher.

In Lethbridge the turnout for this election dropped to 27.1 per cent from 29.8 per cent in 2013.

In Red Deer, 30.3 per cent of people voted, down from 31.8 per cent in the last election.

St. Albert voters were more active with 42.9 per cent coming out, an increase from 38.1 per cent.

Meanwhile, Calgary saw a huge increase in the number of people who voted with 58.1 per cent. That’s up from 39.4 per cent in 2013.

Political science instructor Jim Groom said the large turnout in Calgary is likely because of an exciting and sometimes controversial mayors race.

“It seems that the electorate likes to see a little bit like a hockey game, you go for the scorers but you actually pay attention when the fights are on,” he explained. “We do find when there’s a really hot issue, voter turnout is more.”

Although Medicine Hat had its own mayoral race with four candidates, Groom said the issues just didn’t resonate with voters.

Many of the candidates had similar platforms which included the age old issue of bringing more good paying jobs and big business to the city.

Groom said with that same issue coming up in nearly every election, it just doesn’t capture the attention of the public.

“Our issues here were a little less interesting perhaps, or a little less contentious,” he said. “When you see that, people seem to be happy with the status quo, so they decide [not to] bother voting.”

While the new transit system appeared to be a big issue heading into the election, Groom said Council’s decision to scrap it likely made it less of an issue.

Groom adds there’s no real way to eliminate voter apathy, but said an exciting race or one with some controversy tends to draw the attention of the electorate.