Municipal election results
The results of the municipal election in British Columbia showed that interest in local municipal governments is very low. Provincial turnout in this election was only 37,07%. In Salmon Arm was even lower, when from 15,619 estimated eligible voters only 4,653 of the residents decided to engage their rights and voted, so only 29,79%. This poor civic engagement played as usually to the benefit of all incumbent candidates, including re-elected mayor Alan Harrison, who has a traditionally strong polls base.
Photo source: Ed White
Incumbent candidates were ready weeks before the elections, as evidenced by hundreds of signs and smiling faces all around the town, which later increased with the signs of the other candidates. The campaign was quiet without any significant problems, except for a few vandalized signs and some misleading information spreading by the supporters of incumbent candidates. The campaign period escalated on October 4 in Salmar Theatre, where “All Candidates Forum” took a place, organized by the Chambers of commerce.
The first advance voting opportunity on October 5 engaged 410 residents, at the second advanced voting day on October 11 the number increased to 773 in total, so during the general election day, on Saturday, October 15 only 3,470 pollees voted.
The re-elected candidates are pro-forced vaccination, which they proved by vaccine mandate for city staff, which is against democratic and moral principles, and also supporters of all gender identity, sexual/affectional orientation, the black lives matters movement, and so on, which declared in inclusivity statement.
In Sicamous, from 2,204 estimated eligible voters only 964 residents voted, which was 21,25%. Incumbent mayor Terry Rysz was beaten by Colleen Anderson.
The interest in the election for directors of Columbia Shuswap Regional District {CSRD} was very low. Three directors of CSRD were acclaimed before the election because they didn’t have opponents. Turnout was only 9,95%, so from eligible 18,564 pollees, voted only 1,848 residents.
The low interest in the municipal election is alarming. The municipal government is closer to the public and directly affected residents in the community. People should be more interested in public affairs, and be more proactive because that unconcern can one day turn against them.
– DB
