Yukon’s population is on the rise, but interest in territorial elections is declining. Chief Electoral Officer Maxwell Harvey is investigating the drop in voter turnout during recent territorial elections. Harvey emphasized that while Elections Yukon is not solely accountable for turnout, various factors like political parties, issues, the media, and individual voters play a role in influencing voter participation.
Despite the Yukon gaining nearly 9,000 new residents in the past decade, the number of voters in territorial elections remained relatively stable, with a minor increase from 18,840 voters in 2016 to 19,086 in the latest election. However, the percentage of voter turnout decreased significantly from 76.4% in 2016 to 53.1% in 2025.
One aspect the review will focus on is the accuracy of the voter list in the territory. Harvey suggested that the voter list may be inflating the total number of voters, possibly due to delays in removing outdated information. This could lead to discrepancies in voter data, especially when individuals have relocated but remain on the voter list.
Additionally, the review will explore the reasons behind people’s choices to vote or abstain from voting. Elections Yukon aims to gather feedback from both voters and non-voters to understand their perspectives. The accessibility of the voting process, including the availability of polling stations and voting hours, will also be examined.
Concerns about low voter turnout among youth were raised, as only 36% of voters aged 18 to 28 participated in the last Yukon election. Those interested in contributing to the review can share their comments through Elections Yukon’s website. Harvey anticipates completing the report before the end of the Legislative Assembly’s spring sitting.
