Voter turnout in electoral reform plebiscite remains low

With voting in the P.E.I. plebiscite on electoral reform going into its last day turnout at the polls remains low.

• Voting options: The 5 choices in the electoral reform plebiscite

Voter turnout in provincial general elections is typically above 80 per cent on P.E.I., but so far less than a third of that has turned out for the plebiscite.

"By 7 p.m. Sunday evening, Elections PEI recorded a total of 26,638 Islanders, have voted in the plebiscite. That's 26.06% of all registered Island Voters," said Chief Electoral Officer Gary McLeod in a news release.

• 'You could literally sit home in your underwear at 2 a.m. and cast your ballot'

Islanders began voting online and by telephone on Oct. 29, and had the option to cast a paper ballot Friday and Saturday, but the polling stations were quiet on the weekend. Just 14 per cent of the ballots cast so far were on paper.

Seventy-seven per cent of voting has been through the internet, and nine per cent by telephone.

Generally speaking, older voters have been more likely to participate, but numbers are low across the board. The highest turnout is among 65- to 74-year-olds, with 38.01 per cent voting.

How to vote

Islanders have until 7 p.m. Monday to cast a ballot, with internet and telephone voting remaining open until that time.

Votes can be cast on the internet here.

The number for telephone voting is 1-877-271-8587

Elections PEI has prepared information on the five choices on the ballot here.

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