Push is on to boost election turnout

Low voter turnout has been aperennial issuein municipal elections, but there's a push on to change that in Saskatchewan on Wednesday.

Voters in more than 400 cities, town and villages in the provincewill head to the polls to choose mayors, councillors and school board trustees.

In recent civic elections, voter turnout has hovered between 25and 30 per cent.

A citizens group, Lead Saskatoon, says that's not good enough and is trying to combat voter apathy with a competition between Regina and Saskatoon to see who gets the highest turnout.

"Don't sit on your hands and say, 'Why bother, it doesn't really matter anyway,' Lead spokesman Don Ravis said. "In fact, you are contributing to who will make those important decisions on your behalf ."

According to the advance poll data, Saskatoon slightly bigger in population than Regina appears to have the edge. Saskatoon residents cast 5,626 votes inadvance pollsthis month, comparedwith 3,205 in 2006.

In Regina, 1,295 people came out for the advance polls, comparedwith 2,054 in 2006.

Meanwhile, Municipal Affairs Minister Jeremy Harrison was also encouraging Saskatchewan people to get out and vote. He also praised candidates for running for office.

"Municipal government impacts our lives every day and councillors put considerable time and effort into strengthening municipal services and improving our communities," Harrison said in a news release.

Some rural municipalities will have elections on Nov. 4.