The townships of Algonquin Highlands, Dysart et al, Highlands East and Minden Hills have been posting voter turnout updates to their social media pages, encouraging eligible voters to continue casting ballots from now until 8 p.m. next Monday (Oct. 26).
Minden Hills said that as of 4 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 20), approximately 15.27 per cent of eligible voters had done their civic duty. That was up from 14 per cent Monday (Oct. 19). “Less than a week to go. Let’s keep it going, Minden Hills,” the township encouraged while providing voting information.
In Dysart et al, approximately 17 per cent of voters had made their intentions known. Algonquin Highlands was sitting at 10.14 per cent Tuesday and Highlands East at 10.49 per cent as of Monday.
Haliburton Highlands Healthy Democracy Project (HHHDP) spokesperson, Lauren Hunter, said she thinks the voter turnout updates are “great.”
The grassroots HHHDP set out to encourage more candidates to run in 2026, and more people to vote.
In the 2022 municipal election, 12 races across Haliburton County were acclaimed – with only a single candidate nominated for the position. The high number of acclamations likely contributed to that election’s low voter turnout, just 26 per cent on average across the four municipalities in the County. By contrast, the 2026 municipal election has seen only a single acclamation (Algonquin Highlands Ward 1 coun. Karla MacKay), while 56 certified candidates are vying for the remaining 23 council seats across the four municipalities. There are two running for Trillium Lakelands District School Board to bring the number to 58.
Government that affects our daily lives
Hunter said she can only hope the voter turnout numbers increase as well.
“I have to think that through the combination of what we’ve done, the incredible work by all the local media, the township offices have all stepped up in terms of promoting this, and then you’ve got 57 candidates campaigning. I have to hope that it will increase the voter turnout. But the proof will be in the pudding on Monday night.”
Hunter added they had “capacity” crowds at the four allcandidates meetings they held in Algonquin Highlands, Dysart et al, Highlands East and Minden Hills. She said they were closing in on about 4,000 views across the three meetings they’d posted online, with the Algonquin Highlands one uploaded Tuesday (Oct. 20) and expected to boost those numbers.
“It does seem there is a wider group of people who are taking those meetings in, and I am hopeful that they will vote as well, but we are just going to have to wait and see.”
With the final push to vote, Hunter emphasized once again that people must be ready to cast their ballots.
“If you haven’t gotten your information letter, if you have any questions about the process, contact the township offices, and do that as soon as possible. Don’t leave it to the last minute. I would hate it for someone logging in at 7 p.m. Monday and realizing ‘I don’t have my letter. What am I going to do?’ We’ve got to give the township staff time to get the fix together to make sure people can vote.”
Hunter said she could not say enough about the importance of voting.
“It’s the level of government that often gets the least amount of attention but it’s the one that affects our daily lives the most. Roads and bridges, parks and recreation centres, waste and water management, emergency services, and more. We all have a stake in how our local communities are run.”
