Athabasca-area voters headed to the polls Monday, in arguably the most unpredictable provincial election in decades.
Brisk turnout was reported at most polling stations. Unconfirmed reports pegged the turnout at the weekend advance poll in Athabasca at approximately 1,100.
By comparison, in the 2008 provincial election, only 373 ballots were cast in the Athabasca-Boyle advance poll.
In the Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater riding, Progressive Conservative incumbent Jeff Johnson is seeking re-election, contested by Wildrose Party candidate Travis Olson, NDP candidate Mandy Melnyk, and Liberal candidate Gino Akbari.
In the 2008 election, Johnson claimed the seat with 68 per cent of the votes cast. He easily outdistanced Liberal candidate Bill Bonko who received 12.5 per cent of the popular vote, and NDP candidate Peter Opryshko, who collected 11.1 per cent. Wildrose Alliance Party candidate Mike Radojcic and Alberta Green Phyllis Penchuk both received less than five per cent of votes cast.
Voter turnout in Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater was 42.5 per cent in 2008. Provincially, the total voter turnout of 40.6 per cent was the lowest ever recorded.
Stay tuned to athabascaadvocate.com for full coverage of tonight’s election results.
