The population in the Yukon is on the rise, but interest in territorial elections is declining. Chief Electoral Officer Maxwell Harvey has initiated a review to investigate the drop in voter participation during recent territorial elections. Harvey emphasized that while Elections Yukon is not solely accountable for voter turnout, understanding the factors contributing to the decrease in participation is crucial.
Despite an increase of nearly 9,000 new residents in the past decade, the number of voters in territorial elections has remained relatively stagnant. Voter turnout decreased from 76.4% in 2016 to 53.1% in the latest election in November 2025. One aspect under scrutiny in the review is the accuracy of the voter list, as there may be discrepancies leading to an overcount of registered voters.
Election authorities often delay removing names from the voter list to facilitate voting, but this can result in inaccuracies, such as people no longer residing in a district still being on the list. The review will also delve into the reasons why individuals choose to vote or abstain from voting. Harvey expressed the importance of feedback from both voters and non-voters to improve the electoral process.
Moreover, the review will assess the accessibility of voting, including the availability of polling stations and the adequacy of voting hours. Concerns about low voter turnout among youth were also highlighted, with only 36% of voters aged 18 to 28 participating in the last election. Those wishing to contribute feedback to the review can do so through the Elections Yukon website. A comprehensive report is expected to be finalized before the conclusion of the Legislative Assembly’s spring sitting.