Yukon’s population has been on the rise, but interest in territorial elections is dwindling. Chief Electoral Officer Maxwell Harvey has initiated a review to investigate the declining voter turnout in recent territorial elections. Harvey emphasized that while Elections Yukon is not solely responsible for turnout, various factors such as political parties, issues, the political climate, media coverage, and individual voters play a role.
Despite the Yukon welcoming around 9,000 new residents in the past decade, the number of voters in territorial elections has remained relatively stagnant. Voter turnout plummeted from 76.4% in 2016 to 53.1% in 2025, prompting concerns. The review will focus on the accuracy of the voter list, considering the potential overcounting of voters, leading to discrepancies like voters being listed in districts they no longer reside in.
Additionally, the review aims to understand the reasons behind people’s decisions to vote or abstain from voting. Elections Yukon seeks input from both voters and non-voters. The review will also assess the accessibility of the voting process, including the availability of polling stations and the adequacy of voting hours.
Harvey highlighted the issue of low youth voter turnout, noting that only 36% of voters aged 18 to 28 participated in the last Yukon election. Those interested in contributing to the review can share their feedback through Elections Yukon’s website. The review’s findings are expected to be compiled into a report before the end of the spring session of the Legislative Assembly.