The GTA had the worst voter turnout in Ontario in the last federal election. Here's why

The Greater Toronto Area is often the place where federal elections are won and lost, but despite its political importance voter turnout continues to be a problem.

The region was home to nine of the 10 Ontario ridings with the lowest voter turnout in the 2021 federal election. Turnout was the lowest in King-Vaughan, where only 48.62 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot. 

King-Vaughan resident Lawra Marzetti was surprised to find out one of every two eligible voters stayed home on election day. 

"I think people are in a little bit of a bubble here. It's an affluent area and I feel maybe they feel as though their wealth or their future is untouchable," she said.

Experts say many factors can influence voter turnout in a given riding, including the level of education and economic and social challenges.

John Beebe, director of the Democratic Engagement Exchange at Toronto Metropolitan University, says another factor is when people feel less connected and engaged in their communities.

"When we see it as our contribution to our community, we're more likely to vote," said Beebe.

Polls analyst Eric Grenier says the number of new Canadians in the area can also influence the turnout.

"The voting might be a bit of a new thing and whether they think they're registered on the list or not can play a role in it," he said.

"We think about a lot of how the national media race is primarily done in English, I think that can have a role in terms of communities that might have English as a second or third language that they don't feel like they're being really engaged in the race."

Markham-Unionville had 5th worst turnout in Ontario

Markham-Unionville had the fifth worst voter turnout in Ontario, with 51.52 per cent of eligible voters casting ballots.

The riding is considered unpredictable by some experts, says Grenier. Most recently, Liberal incumbent Paul Chiang stepped out of the race after suggesting a Conservative rival should be turned over to the Chinese consulate in return for a bounty.

"When there is no incumbent on a ballot, that often has the biggest change in voter behaviour because a lot of voters will then take a look at the candidates a little bit more, feel a little bit less of that loyalty they might have," said Grenier.

"They might be more impacted by the national race than they would be if their incumbent was still on the ballot."

Alfred Chan, a resident of Markham-Unionville, says he always votes, despite his riding's low voter turnout.

"You have to vote, that's the basic right and power that you have," he said. "As a citizen you need to be responsible, otherwise you cannot complain because you didn't do your basic responsibility." 

Resident Mary Liu says she skipped an election once because she felt like her vote wouldn't make a difference.

"It just seemed like the votes were already there," she said. "Whether I was for or against it, it just seemed like it was already made up."

But she says people should put these thoughts aside and cast their ballots. 

"We should try to make time to vote because everybody's vote counts."

Here are the GTA ridings with the lowest turnout:

• King-Vaughan: 48.62 per cent.
• Humber River-Black Creek: 48.72 per cent.
• Etobicoke North: 49.48 per cent.
• York South-Weston: 50.55 per cent.
• Markham-Unionville: 51.52 per cent.
• Scarborough-Agincourt: 52.55 per cent.
• York Centre: 52.68 per cent.
• York-Simcoe: 53.24 per cent.
• Brampton Centre: 53.29 per cent.