Unofficial vote numbers from Monday's federal election show turnout higher than in 2021, but slightly below the provincial and national averages in the ridings representing Barrhead, Westlock and Athabasca.
It will be weeks before Elections Canada is able to officially confirm voter numbers, statistics, and other information but the unofficial numbers were released Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the polls closed.
In Peace River-Westlock, which encompasses Barrhead and Westlock 53,343 people cast a ballot, a voter turnout of 66 per cent. Of those voters, 76.9 per cent (41,027) chose Conservative incumbent Arnold Viersen as their voice in Ottawa.
To the east, 53,421 people voted in the Lakeland riding, which spans from Athabasca to Lloydminster. Conservative incumbent Shannon Stubbs was re-elected with a resounding 80.9 per cent (44,955) of the vote, with 67 per cent of eligible voters marking a ballot.
Across Alberta, voter turnout was a touch under 70 per cent, higher than the national average. The Alberta riding with the highest voter turnout was Sherwood Park - Fort Saskatchewan, with Conservative incumbent Garnett Genuis handily winning a riding where 78 per cent of voters showed up.
Nationally,19,583,016 Canadians voted, for a voter turnout of 68.65 per cent, up from the 2021 election, when 62.3 per cent of eligible Canadians cast a ballot.
Approximately 11 million Canadians voted on election day, with another 7.2 million voting at advance polls between April 18-21. Just over 900,00 voted by special ballot from within their district, and 215,000 voted from outside their district, including deployed military personnel and inmates.
Sixteen registered parties received votes, and 1,959 candidates ran in Canada’s 343 electoral districts.
“I want to thank the some 230,000 people who helped deliver the election. Whether electors voted on election day or earlier at advance polls or by special ballot, election workers were there to serve them and to ensure that the integrity and secrecy of the vote was upheld,” said Stéphane Perrault, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada.
