BC Stats said on Saturday that B.C.’s declining voter turnout rate since the 1960s presents a paradox.
As part of two research projects it is conducting about voter participation and apathy, BC Stats said that in 1983, 71% of registered voters cast ballots in the provincial election compared with 55% in the May 2009 election.
“Since the 1960s, when declining turnout rates were first noted, many of these socio-demographic characteristics have moved in the direction that would suggest higher voter turnout,” said the governmental organization.
For example, BC Stats noted that a greater proportion of British Columbians possess a university education.
“The conclusion to be drawn is that although socio-demographic factors explain the differences in turnout in a single election, they do not explain the long-term trend of declining turnout rates.”
Of the 2.9 million registered voters in the last provincial election, one-third were consistent voters in that they voted in the 2001, 2005 and 2009 general elections.
Consistent non-voters accounted for 6% of registered voters.
Three-quarters of the registered voters aged 70 to 74 cast a ballot in the 2009 general election, the largest proportion of any age cohort.
BC Stats said that each successively younger age group had fewer registered voters voting than the next older group.
For example, only one-third of 20- to 24-year-olds cast a ballot in the three elections.
A contradiction to that trend appeared among voters aged 18 and 19: 60% of that demographic went to the polls – although BC Stats noted that the figure may be related to the fact that, as first-time voters, 18- and 19-year-olds are required to register to vote and are therefore more likely to vote as part of that process.
Nearly one-quarter of eligible voters were either not interested or were neutral about the most recent provincial election.