Since May, increasing Powell River’s polling numbers for Saturday’s local government election is something Peak Publishing has been working to improve through voter engagement. We think that everyone benefits when more residents are engaged in their community, and voting is an important part of engagement.
In 2011, when voters went to the polls for a local election, about four in 10 eligible voters participated. Although better than the provincial average of 29 per cent, our goal has been to help increase that to 60 per cent on November 15. It’s a goal shared by other community newspapers throughout the province.
Participation in local civic elections tends to have the lowest voter turnout compared to provincial and federal elections. Small communities have higher turnouts—half of Bowen Island’s eligible voters cast a ballot in their local civic elections. Vancouver’s turnout was 34.6 per cent.
We know that without information about who the candidates are and where they stand on the issues, making an informed decision can be difficult.
A special section in the November 7 Weekend Shopper should help our readers feel more prepared when they go into the polling booth.
Our website has offered messages from candidates who choose to take advantage of that. It also offers opportunity to comment on issues affecting our community. The pages of our newspaper have included a special branding on issues related to the election named Your Vote Matters.
Other media in the community have also had a focus on the election, offering voters an opportunity to learn about candidates and the referendum. Televised and radio broadcasts of candidate forums have been archived for reference.
We have been told that because there is no mayoralty race, the voting percentage here could be lower than last time. Let’s hope that does not turn out to be true. We do have a referendum asking if City of Powell River should borrow money for space a Crossroads Village Shopping Centre to house a new library for the community.
City residents will elect six councillors from among 13 candidates. They and Powell River Regional District residents will select five Powell River Board of Education trustees from 11 people on the ballot. Regional district voters will elect directors in their Electoral Areas of B, C and D.
It is up to each voter how many candidates receive their votes. Whatever choices they make, we want to see a turnout of at least 60 per cent.
