Voter turnout surges in Canada's southernmost ridings

Thousands more voters flocked to local polls in this election than during the last federal race, according to preliminary results from Elections Canada. 

With all polls reporting, voter turnout — a rate that's calculated by dividing the number of valid votes by the number of registered voters — was up in each of Canada's five southernmost ridings compared to the 2021 federal election.

The numbers are unofficial and do not yet include voters who registered on election day. In four of the ridings, a direct comparison is also made more difficult by recent changes to riding boundaries. 

Still, the figures paint an early picture of a more engaged electorate, both nationally and in the country's manufacturing heartland, despite a short campaign.

The highest local turnout was in the riding of Essex, where 73 per cent of voters cast their ballot. It's a jump of more than six percentage points compared to the last federal contest.  

Turnout in the renamed and expanded Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong riding also soared past the 70 per cent mark, hitting nearly 72 per cent, compared to 67 per cent last time.

At the national level, turnout sat at 68.66 per cent with most polls reporting on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET – a jump of six percentage points compared to 2021, and the highest it's been since 1993. 

The Conservatives' Harb Gill beat longtime NDP MP Brian Masse in Windsor West, where turnout was up more than five percentage points, from 53.1 to 58.13 per cent. 

Windsor West was the only local riding to retain its 2021-era borders after a regular redistribution process reshaped the other four ridings in the region.

One of those ridings is neighbouring Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore, where Conservative candidate Kathy Borrelli eked out a narrow victory against incumbent Liberal MP Irek Kusmierczyk. Turnout there leapt from 60.5 to 66.42 per cent.

Results in that riding and a handful of other close races across the country were delayed until Tuesday as Elections Canada dealt with a burst of ballots, particularly special ones from Canadians abroad, deployed soldiers, incarcerated people, and others. 

"As a result of the very high volume of international and national ballots received at the Elections Canada counting facility in Ottawa, including 10-15 thousand received just before the 6pm EST deadline, it has taken longer to process, count, and report on all votes cast," said Elections Canada spokesperson Nathalie de Montigny. 

"Special ballot counters worked long into election night to ensure Canadians could have timely election results, while adhering to the procedures required by the Canada Elections Act," she added.

In Chatham-Kent—Leamington, turnout was also up nearly five percentage points, from 63.5 to just above 68 per cent. 

Here is the full riding breakdown: 

Windsor West

Population: 130,162

2025 preliminary turnout: 58.13 per cent (54,894 of 94,427 registered electors)

2021 final turnout: 53.1 per cent

Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore

Population: 131,097

2025 preliminary turnout: 66.42 per cent (70,019 of 105,426 registered electors)

2021 final turnout: 60.5 per cent

Essex

Population: 131,691

2025 preliminary turnout: 73.03 per cent (80,189 of 109,799 registered electors)

2021 final turnout: 66.6 per cent

Chatham-Kent—Leamington

Population: 134,226

2025 preliminary turnout: 68.04 per cent (72,365 of 106,351 registered electors)

2021 final turnout: 63.5 per cent

Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong

Population: 128,154

2025 preliminary turnout: 71.66 per cent (76,328 of 106,509 registered electors)

2021 final turnout: 67 per cent