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Early estimates predict record low voter turnout – Metro US

Early estimates predict record low voter turnout

How low can we go?

Elections Nova Scotia is estimating a 58.9 per cent participation rate in Tuesday’s provincial election, dipping below 2006’s record low 59.8.

“We live in optimism — we were hoping that more people would come and that we could be higher than in the last election,” said Elections Nova Scotia spokesman Dana Doiron.

Voter turnout for advance polls and write-in ballots was much higher than in the previous provincial election. Early voting boasted an increase of 9,000 voters in the weekend before Tuesday’s election.

Doiron was looking for an increased voter turnout Tuesday, and hoped advance polls were a sign that would happen.

“But it seems that instead, what we have is that people voted early, at their convenience, rather than more people voting,” he said.

An official number from Elections Nova Scotia should be released today.