Richmond’s two ridings rank among the worst for voter turnout in B.C., based on data from Elections Canada.Only 51.9 per cent of eligible voters in Richmond Centre cast a ballot in Monday’s election, the worst turnout in the province.
At 55.6 per cent, Steveston-Richmond East had the third worst voter turnout in B.C.
Both ridings elected Conservative members of Parliament: Alice Wong won her fourth consecutive term in Richmond Centre, and Kenny Chiu unseated Liberal incumbent Joe Peschisolido in Steveston-Richmond East.
Most of Vancouver’s ridings also saw low voter turnout, as did Burnaby South and Surrey Centre.
The electoral district of Saanich-Gulf Islands saw the highest voter turnout — 73.1 per cent.
Average voter turnout in B.C. was just 65 per cent, less than the national turnout of just under 66 per cent.
Out of a total 73,450 eligible voters, 38,142 cast ballots in Richmond Centre. In Steveston-Richmond East, 41,084 of 73,840 registered voters went to the polls.
