The advance voter turnout for the 2025 Ontario provincial election has hit record lows, stirring concerns among election officials and political analysts alike. Statistics released by Elections Ontario indicate only 678,789 voters participated during the three-day advance voting period from February 20 to February 23, amounting to just 6.14% of eligible voters. This figure marks a stark decline compared to the previous provincial election.
Back in 2022, Ontario saw much higher engagement, with 1,066,545 voters casting their ballots over ten days of advance voting, representing 9.92% of the electorate. The trend appears even more pronounced when we look back at the 2018 elections, where 698,609 voters participated during five days of advance voting, translating to 6.8% of eligible voters.
Greg Essensa, the Chief Electoral Officer of Ontario, expressed gratitude to those who participated: "Thank you to all voters who participated in advance voting and to the dedicated staff who worked to keep the voting process in Ontario safe, efficient, and secure. If you haven’t cast your ballot yet, there’s still time—visit your local election office or vote on election day." His statement underlines not just appreciation for participants, but also serves as encouragement for those yet to vote.
The rules governing the advance voting days are outlined by the Election Act, which stipulates the number of advance polling days based on whether the elections are fixed-date or not. This year, Ontario's voters had only three days to cast their ballots early, significantly shrinking the window from the ten days allowed during the 2022 election.
Despite the lower turnout this year, the election authority takes solace from the fact half as many votes as 2022 were cast, considering the shorter period this time around. It raises questions about how future elections might be structured to boost voter participation.
Voters who have not yet participated can still cast their ballots at their assigned local election offices until February 26, 2025, or vote on February 27 during the official election day from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Eastern Time.
Information cards for voters are not mandatory but can simplify the voting process for those unfamiliar with their voting locations. Potential participants are encouraged to check their eligibility online at elections.on.ca or through the Elections Ontario app, which helps streamline the voting process.
The Bay of Quinte riding has six candidates competing for votes, including incumbent Tyler Allsopp from the Progressive Conservative Party, David O’Neil (Liberal Party), Lori Borthwick (Green Party), Amanda Robertson (New Democratic Party), Nick Maddison from the Ontario Party, and Anthony Zambito for the New Blue Party.
Interestingly, as of February 21, 1,003 voters had registered to vote by mail in the Bay of Quinte district alone, indicating some engagement albeit lower than previous cycles. Local election offices will continue to serve voters up until the deadline, and assistive voting technology is available for those needing support.
With the election day rapidly approaching, officials are urging voters to take advantage of the remaining opportunities to make their voices heard. The turnout at advance polls reflects more than just numbers; it speaks to voter engagement and the health of the democratic process. The results of this election could influence future voting efforts and policies aimed at increasing participation.