Voter Turnout Rate

Voter turnout showed a statistical decrease in 2014 to some of the lowest performing levels in the last 20 years. The 2018 eligible voters list and population count are not available at time of updating so no voting rate results can be calculated.

Why Monitor This

Voter turnout reflects overall community commitment to the political system, as well as involvement in decision making. Poor turnout may reflect unfamiliarity with the democratic process or a sense of disempowerment. However, dissatisfaction with current community issues can lead to greater turnout at a specific time. Local issues and other factors should be taken into consideration when interpreting this indicator.

What This Measures

This indicator tracks the relationship between the number of ballots cast in local municipal elections and Whistler's population to arrive at the percentage of the population that voted. Community population is used in lieu of the eligible voters count for comparisons over time due to major discrepancies in the eligible voters prior to 2008. Voter rate results from 2008 forward are comparable using the eligible voters list.