Whitehorse’s new mayor and council were elected by just 27 per cent of the city’s voting population.
According to a news release posted by the City on Oct. 21, 2024, 6,115 people voted this year. 2021’s election saw a voter turnout of 31 per cent, with a total of 6,024 voters casting ballots. In 2018, voter turnout was 37 per cent when 7,394 eligible voters cast their ballots, according to city spokesperson Matthew Cameron.
In Carmacks, there were 138 votes cast. CAO Matthew Cybulski estimated via email there are around 160 eligible voters, meaning approximately 85 per cent of the population voted.
In Watson Lake, 335 voters turned out, according to municipal clerk Tiffany Lund. There were 590 voters on the registered list of electors, she said.
In Mayo, 150 ballot papers were received. 72 were counted as valid, and 78 were unused or spoiled, according to the council ballot account shared with the News via email. It is not clear what is meant by a ballot being unused or spoiled.
In Haines Junction, 520 ballot papers were received. For mayor, 287 were counted as valid, 229 were unused or spoiled, according to a ballot account posted on the village’s website. The ballot account for council shows 291 votes that were counted as valid, with 229 unused or spoiled.
In Teslin, 77 voters showed up, returning officer Shelley Hassard told the News in an email. This number is a bit lower than previous elections, said Hassard. She said the low turnout could be due to the acclamation of Mayor Gord Curran, paired with snowy weather on election day. She estimated voter turnout to be around 60 per cent, noting that the Village of Teslin does not use a voters list.
Faro returning officer Julia Salo told the News via email the village received 199 votes.
