Ottawa

What a non-voter looks like in Canada, in one chart

In the 2011 federal election, 39 per cent of Canadians didn’t vote. Here are their excuses.

Every day, Maclean’s Show and Tell infographic series will highlight interesting data in a visually appealing way, bringing clarity and context to some aspect of the campaign—whether it’s one of the election’s major issues, or a less-discussed concern. Read this daily chart series in our special daily “Bulldog” edition.

Did you cast a ballot in the 2011 general election? With a voter turnout of only 61 per cent, there’s a good chance you were one of the 7.5 million eligible voters who didn’t. But why didn’t you? For both politicians and academics, it’s one of the most troubling questions for modern democracy. Luckily, Elections Canada provided us with a brief glimpse into the minds of non-voters following the last federal election. During a post-election poll, they discovered that more than 50 per cent of those who chose to abstain did so simply because they weren’t interested, or were too busy. What other reasons did Canadians give for not voting?dailyChart_04

    Looking for more?

    Get the Best of Maclean's sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for news, commentary and analysis.
    • By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.