Editorial: Good turnout

The election signs have almost disappeared, the promotional pamphlets have been discarded and Canada has a new Prime Minister-designate. For a winter election that was supposed to test the patience of an already apathetic electorate, this 39th trip to the polls proved to be anything but boring. Wellington-Halton Hills residents demanded information from the local candidates and paid close attention to the national scene. So tuned in were residents that in the riding 55,242 of 77,441 registered voters cast a ballot. That represents a 71 per cent voter turnout. Pretty impressive when you consider that's more people voting than the 67 per cent turnout in 2004 and just 63 per cent in 2000. Advance polls this year were just as busy as in 2004, with a total of 4,766 residents casting their ballot early. The candidates themselves should collectively give themselves a pat on the back. They made this election interesting-- no easy task during December. The political hopefuls should be proud that they managed to engage a frustrated electorate. All-candidates meetings, non-stop door-knocking and telephone campaigns kept voters in the know. We wish Conservative Michael Chong all the best as he heads back to Ottawa. We also hope residents will turn out in equally strong numbers this November when we head to the polls for the municipal election.