Advance vote turnout down for May 2 byelections: Elections Ontario

Advance voter turnout for the Lambton-Kent-Middlesex byelection is half of what it was in the 2022 Ontario general election, Elections Ontario figures show.

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Preliminary figures indicate 4,976 voters, or 5.5 per cent of registered voters in the riding, cast ballots in advance of Thursday’s byelection, the agency said.

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This compares to the 9,820 people, of 10.9 per cent of registered voters in Lambton-Kent Middlesex, who voted before the last general election.

The decline in advance voters was similar for a byelection in Milton.

Only 6,511 voters, or 6.6 per cent of registered voters, cast advance ballots there, down from the 11,520 voters, or 12.6 per cent of registered voters in the last general election, agency figures show.

Eight candidates are vying for the seat left vacant in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex by the departure of former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Monte McNaughton last fall. They are:

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  • Keith Benn (New Blue Party)
  • Cathy Burghardt-Jesson (Liberal)
  • Stephen R. Campbell (None of the Above Direct Democratic Party)
  • Steve Pinsonneault (PC)
  • Kathryn Shailer (NDP)
  • Andraena Tilgner (Green Party)
  • Hilda Walton (Family Rights Party)
  • Cynthia Workman (Ontario Party)

Voters can cast advance ballots at their returning office until 6 pm Wednesday. See elections.on.ca for more on where to vote and acceptable identification.

Voters can use assistive voting technology at their returning office or by appointment on election day.

Regular polls open at 9 am Thursday and close at 9 pm

To find your assigned voting location, visit voteinformationservice.elections.on.ca.

There’s a blackout on political ads and election surveys Wednesday and Thursday. Election surveys not previously made public may not be published between 12:01 am and 9 pm voting day, Elections Ontario said.

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