Early voter turnout down compared to 2021 as Nova Scotia campaign enters last week

With just one week left in the Nova Scotia election campaign, early voter turnout is significantly lower compared to the 2021 election. According to Elections Nova Scotia, a total of 64,000 early votes have been cast as of Monday, which is 11,367 fewer than the 75,367 votes cast at the same point in the 2021 summer campaign. Early votes include write-in ballots, early votes cast at the returning office, and advance polls.

Liberal Party Leader Zach Churchill expressed concern over the low voter turnout, attributing it to “election fatigue” following recent municipal and U.S. elections. He also mentioned that a postal strike has resulted in voters not receiving cards indicating early voting locations.

One of the key issues in the election campaign has been Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston’s decision to call a snap election, going against a law passed in the fall of 2021 that set July 15, 2025, as the date for the next election. Houston justified his decision by citing the need for a new mandate to address affordability issues and assert the province’s independence from Ottawa.

In response, Churchill criticized Houston’s flip-flop on the election date and emphasized the importance of voters paying attention to the Liberal Party’s platform. This includes a commitment to support renters facing steep monthly costs, with proposals for a “rent bank” program offering zero-interest loans and changes to fixed-term leases.

Churchill also outlined plans for a rent cap system based on inflation, market conditions, and regional vacancy rates, as well as the establishment of a residential tenancies enforcement unit. Meanwhile, NDP Leader Claudia Chender has focused on the housing crisis in the province, highlighting the high cost of rent and promising more public housing built with government funding.

As the campaign enters its final days, the candidates are making their final pitches to voters, hoping to secure support for their respective platforms. With the election date approaching, the outcome remains uncertain, and the future direction of Nova Scotia hangs in the balance.