Make it happen

Dear Editor:

RE: Fifty per cent, July 16.

In response to the big question of how we could get at least 50% of voters out to vote, I wanted to share a few thoughts. 

In Ontario, voter turnout has been on a downward trend for years – from an average of 41% in 1996 to 32% in 2022. That’s just one third of the population making decisions about who will lead their local government! 

At the same time, the number of acclamations has increased from 390 in 2014 to 553 in 2022. And in 2022, a total of 32 councils were fully acclaimed across Ontario. This is not healthy for democracy. 

These trends are all related; fewer candidates running means that there are fewer people being brought into the political discussions that shape our community. And if those discussions are not happening, voters stay away from the polls. For a great resource on voter turnout in Ontario, and to see the stats mentioned above,  check out the Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s Healthy Democracy Project. 

In Centre Wellington, voter turnout in 2022 was a bit better than the provincial average at just under 39%. So, I did some math – in CW we would only need about another 2,600 people to vote this October to get to a 50% turnout! 

That’s not that many people. If even a third of us who voted in the last election, talked to our neighbours, friends, and family and encouraged just one more person each to vote, we could hit 50% no problem here in Centre Wellington!

I know the Town of Erin is already on board with this challenge and I would love to see all of the other lower-tier municipalities across Wellington County join in as well. Let’s make 50% happen!

Bronwynne Wilton,
Fergus