Eastern Ontario eclipses national turnout rate again

It looks like the riding of Carleton edged out Ottawa Centre for the voter turnout crown in the National Capital Region.

Unofficial numbers provided by Elections Canada Tuesdaymorning show77.4 per cent of eligible voters in Carleton cast a ballot,1.3per cent higher than the turnout in Ottawa Centre and afull 11.4 per centhigher than the national average of 66 percent.

In fact, voter turnout in nine of the 10 ridings in Eastern Ontario was above the national average, with the lone exception being StormontDundasSouth Glengarry, where turnout reachedjust 62.9per cent.

The four ridings in the Outaouaiscombined for a voter turnout of 65.2 per cent.

National turnout down from 2015

Carleton's turnout pales in comparison Ottawa Centre's achievement in the 2015 federal election when the riding led all of Canada in voter turnout with 82.2 per centof eligible voters casting a ballot.

For the second consecutive general election, the riding ofArgenteuilLa Petite-Nation east of Gatineauhad the lowest voter turnout in the region with just 61.9 per cent.

Expectations were high heading into Monday's vote following a 29 per cent jump in turnout at advance polls on Thanksgiving weekend, compared tothe same period in 2015.

However, the unofficial numbersshow the national percentage dropped from68.4 per cent in 2015 to 66 per cent in 2019.

Elections Canada says the unofficial tally does not include electors who registered on election day.

Voter turnout by riding

• Ottawa Centre: 76.1%

• OttawaVanier: 68.3%

• Ottawa South: 69.6%

• Ottawa WestNepean: 70.2%

• Orlans: 75.6%

• Nepean: 73.2%

• KanataCarleton: 74.4%

• Carleton: 77.4%

• GlengarryPrescottRussell: 68.8%

• StormontDundasSouth Glengarry: 62.9%

• Outaouais (4 ridings): 65.2%

• ArgenteuilLa Petite-Nation: 61.9%

• Gatineau: 65.3%

• HullAylmer: 66.9%

• Pontiac: 66.5%

• National: 66%