WINNIPEG – Manitobans across the province are heading to the polls amid record advance voting in Winnipeg and signs of increased voter engagement in elections across Canada.
More than 130 municipalities across Manitoba are holding municipal elections Wednesday, with voters choosing mayors, reeves, councillors and school trustees.
A record number of voters cast their ballots in advance of Winnipeg’s municipal election, with a total of 50,767 votes cast. That is a 21.2 per cent increase from 2022, when the previous advance voting record was set in the city.
“I think every vote is going to matter in this one. With so many options, I think that you might see a little bit more of a dispersion in the results that come in,” said Winnipeg voter Alexander Hryndzio.
Twelve candidates are vying for Winnipeg’s mayoral seat, including incumbent Scott Gillingham and former city councillor Kevin Klein. Voters will also elect representatives to 15 city council wards and choose school trustees across the city’s school divisions.
Public safety, housing, affordability, homelessness and public transit have emerged as key issues during the campaign.
‘Every election is important’
“For me, it’s important to get out and vote to make sure that I have a voice (in) what I feel I want to happen with the city,” said Cory Gergulich, who voted Wednesday morning.
“I live in downtown and I care about the city.”
Other voters feel this election in Winnipeg could turn out to be a pivotal one.
“Every election is important, but this one seems to have a higher degree of importance,” said Andrea Kohuch.
“There’s a lot of issues in the city that need to be addressed, and I think needs to be taken care of, so I think voting for a mayor in the city is by far one of the most important votes,” said Desiree Tessier, who voted on Wednesday.
The elections in Winnipeg and across Manitoba come amid signs of increased voter participation in other parts of the country.
Toronto’s civic election earlier this week had a 45 per cent voter turnout, following the historically low 2022 election, when voter turnout failed to reach 30 per cent.
Quebec’s provincial election earlier this month saw a slight increase in voter turnout from the previous election four years ago, with 66.93 per cent of eligible voters casting their ballots.
B.C. is the exception, as its snap election saw a record-low turnout.
“I think fluctuation is normal,” said political expert Lori Turnbull. “I think that, you know, we’ll see higher turnout in some cases, and lower turnout in others.”
Turnbull, a professor in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax, says the numbers may reflect a growing appetite for change among voters.
“In some cases, there’s a real change momentum, in the sense that the voters want to see change; they want to come out and make sure that they are heard,” she said.
“The potential impact, if the other side wins, will propel people to come out and vote.”
