WELLINGTON COUNTY – As the Oct. 24 municipal election approaches, votes for councillors, mayors and school trustees are being cast by electors across the county.
An average of 17.6 per cent of voters across the county’s seven lower-tier municipalities have cast their ballots via mail, online, phone, or in person.
Data on the number of ballots or votes received was requested from municipal staff and was received by the Advertiser between Oct. 19 and 21.
As of Oct. 19, the highest voter turnout was seen in Wellington North, where clerk Karren Wallace reported that 28.7%, or 2,454 of 8,557 eligible voters’ ballots had been received.
Two advanced polling days were held, on Oct. 8 in Mount Forest and Oct. 15 in Arthur, with 45 and 25 votes cast on those days, respectively.
The lowest turnout was registered in Puslinch with clerk Courtenay Hoytfox reporting on Oct. 21 that 6.5%, or 424 of 6,478 potential ballots had been received.
Of those, 37 were vote-by-mail, and 387 people voted at an advanced polling station on Oct. 15.
It’s worth noting the number of eligible voters, from which the turnout percentages have been calculated, changes daily because ballots indicating that someone has moved are received.
In Centre Wellington, clerk Kerri O’Kane reported that 15.8%, or 3,656 votes from 23,218 eligible voters had been recorded.
Of those, 85% or 3,107 votes, were submitted online, and 15% or 548 votes, were submitted by phone.
In Erin, spokesperson Lavina Dixit reported the town had received 17.7% of eligible residents’ votes by Oct. 19, working out to 1,650 of 9,303 potential votes.
In Guelph/Eramosa, clerk Amanda Knight reported the township had received 19.1% of eligible residents’ votes by Oct. 19, working out to 1,991 of 10,440 potential votes.
In Mapleton, clerk Larry Wheeler reported the township had received 16.4% of eligible residents’ votes by Oct. 20, working out to 1,147 of 7,014 potential votes.
Of those, 620 were submitted online, and 527 by mail.
In Minto, clerk Annilene McRobb reported the town had received 19.6% of eligible residents’ votes by Oct. 19, working out to 1,291 of 6,597 potential votes.
Across the seven municipalities, between Oct. 19 and 21, 12,613 votes were received, accounting for 17.6% of 71,607 eligible voters.
There is is still time to vote with locations across the county open until 8pm on Oct. 24.
You can also find our voting guides listed here.
To see where you can vote on Monday, use the interactive map below.
