Voter turnout for NWT election near 44 percent, down from 2011

Less than 44 percent of registered voters cast a ballot for Monday’s territorial election, according to Elections NWT.

Of 28,717 registered electors in the NWT, 12,518 voted either on election day or at advanced polls.

Turnout was especially low in Yellowknife ridings, where three incumbents lost their seats to new challengers.

Kam Lake experienced the worst turnout, where little more than a quarter of registered voters cast a ballot.

Figures for Great Slave, Frame Lake and Range Lake weren’t much better – at 27 percent, 27 percent and 31 percent respectively.

Voting numbers in ridings outside of the capital city tell a much different story, however. In Nunakput, roughly three-quarters of registered voters went to the polls.

Turnout was also high in Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh at 71 percent and the Mackenzie Delta at 65 percent.

In Hay River South, roughly 55 percent of all votes cast were done during advanced polls.

Voter turnout during the 2011 general election was 48 percent.

A full list of turnout percentages for each riding in the NWT can be found below:

                                                             28,717                               12,518                                43.59%