In the recent Ontario election, voter turnout in Nepean was 45.49 per cent, with just 46,741 of the 102,744 eligible voters casting a ballot.
While this figure is slightly higher than Ontario’s record-low turnout of 44.06 per cent in 2022, it reflects a broader trend of low voter engagement as in this election, Ontario only saw a 45.40 per cent voter turnout.
Across Ottawa, turnout varied, with Ottawa Centre recording the highest participation at 49.85 per cent and Ottawa–Vanier the lowest at 39.83 per cent. The average Ottawa turnout was 46.08 per cent.
Liberal candidate and registered nurse Tyler Watt secured a decisive victory in Nepean, taking 48.53 per cent of the vote and unseating the Progressive Conservatives in a riding that party had controlled for the past 26 years. Watt’s win over PC candidate Alex Lewis by 4,721 votes (22,683 to 17,962) marks a significant shift in Nepean’s political landscape.
Voter engagement, despite the relatively close race, was not high. While 46,741 people voted, another 56,003 eligible voters did not — more than enough to have altered the result if they had gone to the polls.
If Lewis had convinced just 8.4 per cent or fewer than one out of 10 of these non-voters to support him, he could have defeated Watt and kept Nepean for the PCs.
However, PC support last week had declined compared to past elections in Nepean. Lisa MacLeod, the longtime Progressive Conservative MPP who stepped down last year, won re-election in 2022 with 19,891 votes — 1,929 more than Lewis received this time.
Watt’s victory was one of a few riding flips in the province, with Nepean being the only Ottawa seat to change hands.
Watt positioned himself as a strong advocate for Nepean voters, particularly on health care.
“As a nurse, I have seen firsthand how our health-care system has deteriorated under a Conservative government. Wait times are up, health-care professionals are struggling, and 2.5 million Ontarian’s are without a family doctor. This government has been asleep at the wheel as things go from bad to worse,” Watt said during the campaign.
He also contrasted his leadership style with that of his opponent, saying, “Nepean deserves a representative who fights for them, not someone who picks fights with anyone who has a different opinion.”
While Nepean’s 45.49 per cent turnout is slightly above recent provincial averages, it remains well below the 56 per cent turnout recorded in 2018 in the riding.
Low voter participation continues to be a challenge in Ontario politics, particularly among younger people. The results in Nepean highlight not only a significant political shift but also the struggle to engage more citizens in the democratic process.
