Regina municipal votes up more than 11,000 from last election for overall turnout of 26%
City to review ways to minimize delays at polling stations in the next election
Turnout rose for this year's Regina municipal election, according to the city's returning officer.
With an estimated 204,832 eligible voters in the city, 52,949 voted in the 2024 election, representing an overall turnout of 26 per cent. This includes votes on election day, at advance polls and through mail-in ballots.
That is an increase of 11,422 from the 2020 municipal election, where 41,527 people voted.
"Am I sitting here saying, 'woohoo, we did a great job, we got 26 per cent?'" city clerk and returning officer Jim Nicol said. "Yeah, great, small steps, but we do have a ways to go."
Nicol said the increase shows people are more engaged about issues in the city. He also gave credit to the communication staff for helping the public distinguish the local election from the recent provincial one.
The official election results — including the victory for mayor-elect Chad Bachynski — were released in a news conference Thursday afternoon.
Long lines at some polling stations
Nicol told CBC on Wednesday that some residents were still waiting to vote at polls an hour after they had closed.
Anyone who arrived before 8 p.m. CST was allowed to stay in line to cast their ballot. That led to some results coming in later than expected.
"I think there were lots of stories and comments being made about people who are waiting in line," Nicol said. "It's not the worst thing that can happen."
Nicol said he will review the "vote count technology" data to find possible improvements for next time.
The new mayor and council will be sworn in on Nov. 18.
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With files from Alexander Quon