Voter Turnout Plummets to 26%
74% Say 'None of the Above'
or
It Doesn't Make Any Difference
74% Say 'None of the Above'
or
It Doesn't Make Any Difference
While those elected to the office of Mayor and Councilor in Nanaimo can breathe a sigh of relief that the 'campaign' is all over and their jobs are secure for another three years, there is little to celebrate and little reason to congratulate any of the incumbents.
With the exception of Councillor Pattje all of the incumbents saw their total number of votes and their percentage of eligible votes fall from the previous election. This term we have a Mayor with only 13.9% of the eligible vote and a council with members having anywhere from 9.3% to 14.3% of the eligible vote, who will be responsible for running a corporation spending 160 million tax dollars every year.
While the headlines may read that Mayor Ruttan wins convincing victory, you might want to consider he got a total 8815 votes and his three rivals combined garnered 8051 votes.
The Incumbents By The Numbers
Remember that if anything, these numbers when finalized will be worse as the total number of eligible voters does not include new registrations. They are based on a total of 63,383 eligible voters in 2011 compared with 61,860 eligible in 2008.
John Ruttan got 9032 out of 61,860 for 14.6% in 2008, and 8815 out of 63,383 for 13.9% in 2011. This represents a total of 217 fewer votes at a time 1523 more votes were available.
Bill Bestwick got 10,759 out of 61,860 for 17.3% in 2008, and 9108 out of 63,383 for 14.3% in 2011. This represents a total of 1651 fewer votes at a time 1523 more votes were available.
Jim Kipp got 8931 out of 61,860 for 14.3% in 2008, and 7479 out of 63,383 for 11.7% in 2011. This represents a total of 1452 fewer votes at a time 1523 more votes were available.
Diana Johnstone got 7342 out of 61,860 for 11.8% in 2008, and 6644 out of 63,383 for 10.4% in 2011. This represents a total of 698 fewer votes at a time 1523 more votes were available.
Fred Pattje got 6170 out of 61,860 for 9.9% in 2008, and 6430 out of 63,383 for 10.0% in 2011. This represents a total of 260 more votes at a time 1523 more votes were available.
To look at the numbers another way, while nearly 14% of the voters said YES to Mayor Ruttan a whopping 86% said NO!
While on average 12% of the voters said YES to the Councillors elected an astounding 88% said NO!
Actually those who didn't show up aren't saying, "no". They're saying their to f*****g lazy to show up. Democracy is an inconvenience to these SOBs.
ReplyDeleteYou are skewing the numbers to suit your argument.
ReplyDeleteFirst you cannot take for granted the number of eligible voters is accurate. The list can and does include individuals that have moved and not updated the provincial voters list (where the city gets its numbers from).
Second you cannot hold it against the successful candidates simply because many choose not to show up or for other reasons (age/out of town) cannot show up.
Historically the turnout has hovered between the high 20% and mid 30% so the numbers are consistant. Based on historical data Mr. Ruttan's win is a new record with over 50% of the votes cast. No other Mayor in the last 12 years at least has obtained that kind of vote percentage wise nor actual vote wise (8,800+ votes).
So give your bashing a rest the poor turnout is nothing new and despite the low turn out Ruttan still topped the numbers.
If you want to bitch then bitch at those that don't show up, your looking as slanted as the Daily News.
Anonymous, if that is your real name. Your quoted 'facts' are simply not accurate. According to city hall, the numbers are the numbers. If we don't like what they prove, we can hardly start throwing them out willy nilly.
ReplyDeleteVoter turnout has been steadily declining and is now nearly 9% lower than in 2005.
I don't have a problem with the fact that any of the candidates got elected. What I do have a problem with is the lack of inspiration any of the candidates are able to bring to the table.
I think it is just as likely that low voter turnout can be attributed to the electorate looking at the candidates and honestly thinking it REALLY does not matter who gets elected, they will all bring the same result in the end.
At the end of the day it is all speculation as to why the turnout is so slow. But if it keeps going at the current rate, in a few terms, no one will be showing up except the candidates.
Democracy is the rule of the majority, and something is wrong when the majority don't participate.