What 3 Windsor residents had to say after voting in the Ontario election

Willow McLellan voted in a government election for the first time in her life on Thursday and says it was a lot less stressful than she thought it would be.

She just turned 18 and said having her say was important to her by voting in Windsor.

"I want the election votes to be representative of everybody — of all ages throughout, like all of Ontario."

McLellan said while the snap election "constricted" the time she had to learn about the candidates and issues, she still thought it was a "good experience."

"I'm happy that I came to vote today," she said, adding she hopes to vote every time there's an election at any level of government.

"I don't see the point in not voting as long as you go out there and try to educate yourself on what you like, what your beliefs are, what you stand for, and what you think would be best for yourself and the people around you."

The last provincial election saw record low voter turnout. McLellan said she can appreciate the level of voter apathy.

"I think a lot of people are uneducated or … think it's too complicated or too much work to go out and educate themselves — or have warped opinions. It's hard for some young people to be able to get the same resources they need to be able to educate themselves properly."

'Civic duty'

Deepak Kaushik is originally form India and moved to Canada in 2016 after a brief stint in the U.S. 

He lives in east Windsor and said he felt it was his duty as an Ontario resident and Canadian to vote.

"It is important for our generations … for our country and we want [the] best administration possible because things have been deteriorated so much," he told CBC News.

"One of the moral obligations, as well as the civic duty to cast my vote and have the best person elected."

Kaushik said despite the short turnaround from when the election was called until now, he thinks everyone was "cognizant enough" to make an educated choice — and have their voice heard.

"We want to cast our vote and we want to be accounted for."

Melissa Harries has been living in the Windsor–Tecumseh riding since 2019 and says education was top of mind for her heading in to cast her ballot.

"Our children are our future, so we should invest in more education," she said.

Harries said job creation is also important to her because she has a teenage son who's currently trying to find work.

"We need to make some difference, like ultimately someone has to fix something," she said.

And after nearly three decades of voting, the Windsor resident said she can't help but become cynical and jaded.

"I think that's just life, right? Because I feel like I should do my part, my son's becoming of age to vote next year. I told him to vote what he believes in, like research it. Do your duty, know what you're signing up for."

Ontario election polls close at 9 p.m. ET.