While there were long lineups throughout much of the day at the Sonora Community Centre during the November 15 municipal election, the reality is local voter turnout was less than 35 per cent, Chief Electoral Office Janette Van Vianen told members of Town of Osoyoos council during their swearing in ceremony Monday afternoon at town hall. The low voter turnout is very disappointing when you consider a new mayor and three new councillors were being elected and local citizens were being asked to vote on the controversial borrowing bylaw to build a new fire hall in the town, said incumbent Coun. C. J. Rhodes. (Richard McGuire file photo)
The chief electoral officer for the Town of Osoyoos during the recent November 15 municipal election shocked the incoming council Monday when she announced voter turnout was the lowest in at least a decade.
Because of long lineups during the afternoon at the Sonora Community Centre on November 15, many had speculated voter turnout was extremely high during last month’s election.
However, that was not the case as only 1,648 out of a possible 4,742 eligible voters cast ballots in the municipal election, said chief electoral officer Janette Van Vianen during the inaugural meeting of the new town council on Monday in council chambers.
“The election for mayor, council and assent voting (new fire hall) had a voter turnout of 34.75 per cent,” said Van Vianen. “In 2011, the voter turnout was 40 per cent. This compares to 46.5 in 2008 and 57.1 in 2005.”
Overall, there were 21 more voters in 2014 than in 2011, however, the percentage turnout is a bit skewed due to the more scientific and accurate approach being used to determine eligible voters this year, said Van Vianen.
“In previous years, we had relied on civic information to estimate population figures, however, they did not have an accurate account of the non-resident property electors with B.C. addresses, which has been determined to be 852,” she said. “The total number of resident electors is determined to be 3,890 for the total number of eligible electors being 4,742.”
A total of 315 ballots were cast in advance voting and 1,333 on general voting day on November 15, for a total of 1,648, she said.
The low voter turnout was very discouraging, said incumbent councillor C. J. Rhodes, who tied for first place in receiving the most number of votes along with new councillor Carol Youngberg.
Not only were local residents voting in a new mayor and three new councilors, but were also voting on whether or not to support a new borrowing bylaw to pay for the construction of a new fire hall for the town.
“It’s really sad that voter turnout would be so low in this community,” said Rhodes. “We have to do something about this between now and the next election.”
Rhodes said he didn’t want to start the inaugural meeting of the new council on a sour note, but he did promise that he will make it a mission to send a message to the more than 2,400 eligible voters who didn’t cast ballots of just how crucial it is to become informed voters and cast ballots during municipal elections.
“I’m sending a message out to all of those eligible voters who did not vote that you will be hearing from me over the next four years,” said Rhodes.
Newly elected Mayor Sue McKortoff and Coun. Carol Youngberg said they were also disappointed in the low voter turnout and would also make it a priority to ensure those numbers increase before the next municipal election in 2019.
Youngberg said alternative methods to increase voting numbers must be looked at by the provincial government to increase the number of eligible voters to cast ballots.
“Electronic or mail voting should be looked at … this is not an Osoyoos issue, but a province-wide issue,” she said.
McKortoff said she hopes the next municipal election in 2019 can be held earlier in the year because many people have already headed south for the winter in Osoyoos and other B.C. communities by early November.
“I think that would make a difference in the number of people who get out and vote,” she said.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
