According to the City of Quesnel, 1,909 ballots were cast in total in the local government election, including those cast on Saturday Oct. 20, and those cast in advance and mail-in polls.
There are an estimated 7,484 people eligible to vote in the City of Quesnel, meaning that just 25.5 per cent of residents and property holders voted in the 2018 election.
This compares to 3,020 ballots cast in 2014.
Voter turnout across B.C. was at 36 per cent – a figure largely unchanged from prior years.
READ MORE: Voter turnout at 36% in B.C.’s municipal election
In the Cariboo Regional District, voter turnout was even lower. Just 16 per cent of eligible voters in the entire regional district cast ballots this election: an estimated 4,654 people went to the polls, from a possible 28,890.
In Area A, voter turnout was approximately 17 per cent, and in Area B, turnout was at about 12.5%.
Incumbent Quesnel councillor Scott Elliott says he’s extremely disappointed with the voter turnout.
“I’m not sure how to engage people more – that’s one of the reasons I was out on the bridge [waving my sign], was trying to raise awareness that there’s an election,” he says.
“Maybe it was because there was no mayor race this time, but there are so many important issues for people to take literally five minutes to get out and vote.”
Elliott says he is pleased with the results from the Public Works Referendum, which saw 76 per cent of voters endorse the idea of borrowing $8.5 million to build the new Public Works facility on Sword Road.
Elliott was the lead candidate in the city councillor race, with a total of 1,417 ballots cast in his favour.
editor@quesnelobserver.com
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