Voter turnout in Nova Scotia’s provincial election this week reached a record low, with just 45 percent of eligible voters casting ballots, according to unofficial results from Elections Nova Scotia.
This marks the first time voter participation in the province has fallen below 50 percent, breaking the previous low of 53.4 percent set in 2017.
Nine of the province’s 55 electoral districts saw turnout dip below 40 percent, contributing to an overall decline of 10 percent fewer votes compared to the 2021 election.
Tim Houston’s Progressive Conservatives secured a historic victory, winning more seats than any party in the province’s history. While the PCs were the only party to increase their vote count, rising by 24,807 compared to 2021.
The Liberals and NDP both saw sharp declines. The Liberals received 81,137 votes, down from 152,859, while the NDP dropped from 88,265 to 79,079, despite gaining seats and forming the Official Opposition.
Some voters reported confusion about where to cast their ballots, an issue compounded by Elections Nova Scotia’s decision not to issue voter information cards due to concerns over a potential Canada Post strike.
Technical issues on election day also made it difficult for some to find polling station details. In some cases, voters were redirected to unfamiliar polling locations, which may have discouraged participation.
The Progressive Conservatives’ strong polling lead from the start of the campaign likely contributed to a lack of engagement, with fewer voters feeling motivated to cast their ballots in an election with a predictable outcome.
