Election turnout highest since 1999

Ontarians turned up at the polls like it was 1999.

At 58 per cent, voter turnout for Ontario’s 42nd general election was the strongest in nearly two decades, according to unofficial results published on Elections Ontario’s website as of Friday afternoon.

That’s more than 5.7 million of the 10.2 million eligible to vote, and a milestone for Ontario, which has never had more than five million people show up in a provincial election.

Just over half — 51 per cent — cast ballots in 2014, a slight uptick from the 48 per cent who did in 2011, which are the two lowest turnout rates in Ontario election history. The highest turnout ever recorded was 74.4 per cent in 1898.

More people than usual cast their ballots before E-day, too. According to Elections Ontario, 768,895 people voted at advanced polling stations between May 26 and June 1, compared to 647,261 who voted early in 2014.

For the first time, people voted using electronic tabulating machines and e-poll books, a digital version of the voters’ list.

The Progressive Conservatives handily formed a majority government in Thursday’s election, winning 76 seats with 40.4 per cent of the popular vote.

The results are unofficial until Elections Ontario releases the official tally next week. Those results will include a poll-bypoll breakdown and details on declined and spoiled ballots.