Vancouver sees lower voter turnout than 2014 municipal election

A Vancouver election voting sign. (Jen Fischer / Twitter)

After the municipal election in 2014, in which Vancouver saw a 44% voter turnout – the highest since 2002 – voter numbers this year dipped down to just 39%, according to the City of Vancouver.

In an election that saw a total of 176,744 ballots cast, independent mayoral candidate Kennedy Stewart won the mayor’s seat.

Despite the overall drop in total voter numbers, there was a marked increase this year in the number of advance votes that were cast.

In that case, the city saw a 27% increase in advance voter turnout, compared to the last municipal election in 2014. According to the city, over 48,000 votes were cast during the advance voting period from October 10 to 17, compared to the 38,400 ballots cast last time around.

Here’s Vancouver’s municipal election turnout history:

2018: 39%
2014: 44%
2011: 34.57%
2008: 30.79%
2005: 32%
2002: 50%
1999: 36.77%
1996: 32.4%

The inauguration ceremony for the newly elected officials will take place on November 5 and the city said details will be released closer to that date.

Stewart won the mayor’s seat with 49,812 votes. Here’s who will join him on city council:

Adriane Carr – Green Party: 69,885 votes
Pete Fry – Green Party: 61,925 votes
Melissa De Genova – NPA: 53,324 votes
Jean Swanson – COPE: 48,955 votes
Colleen Hardwick – NPA: 47,811 votes
Christine Boyle – OneCity: 45,529 votes
Michael Wiebe – Green Party: 45,700 votes
Lisa Dominato – NPA: 44,769 votes
Rebecca Bligh – NPA: 44,117 votes
Sarah Kirby-Yung – NPA: 43,646 votes

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