Hamilton sees record spike in advance voters

Nearly twice as many residents voted ahead of municipal election day this year compared to in 2018.

The city reported Monday that 31,719 ballots were cast during advance or special advance polls this month. The most eager voters this year appeared to be in Ward 12, 10 and 7, where residents cast 2,912, 2,911 and 2,635 ballots in each ward, respectively.

By comparison, 17,052 voters in total cast ballots early in 2018 - which was still an increase over the last election, which saw 13,242 advance votes.

Political experts don't necessarily agree on whether the city is headed for a record turnout overall, though.

McMaster University politics expert Henry Jacek theorized early in the campaign a perceived change election," combined with many open council seats, could push more voters to the polls. But political scientist Chris Erl also noted voter fatigue" could come into play in the third election in 13 months.

In 2018, voter turnout was 38 per cent. In 2014 - and despite an open mayor race - the amalgamated city saw a record low of 34 per cent.

There will be more early votes this year, too, via a new ballot on demand" option being piloted at post-secondary schools Oct. 18, and at some shelters and the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre on Oct. 21.

Close to 3,500 residents also requested mail-in ballots in a first-time effort plagued by delays and inadvertent privacy breaches.

Labour love?

Former chamber boss Keanin Loomis earned an endorsement from a United Steel Workers union local Monday even as some critics point to what they label his anti-worker" advocacy in the past.

Local 7135 president Frank Crowder endorsed the former voice of Hamilton business while standing underneath a provincial election banner for the NDP - which until recently was led by mayoral competitor Andrea Horwath. Crowder acknowledged the union's past support for the NDP and its former leader, but said his members endorsed Loomis municipally because he isn't afraid to do things differently."

We really do need a change at city hall," he said. Keanin is trying to get people to work together."

Loomis noted he has partnered with labour in the past, pointing to a joint effort between the chamber and the Labourers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) to lobby for a resurrected light-rail transit project. LIUNA has since endorsed the mayoral candidate. I'm committed to representing all types of workers and all Hamiltonians as mayor," said Loomis.

Horwath earlier earned the support of the broad-based Hamilton and District Labour Council, which has 50,000 members.

The head of that body, Anthony Marco, has criticized Loomis for what he called anti-worker advocacy" during his time as chamber head, pointing to the business group's opposition to proposed legislated minimum-wage hikes, for example. Loomis has said the chamber opposed the timeline, not the idea of raising the minimum wage in 2018.

Other critics have highlighted a tweet from 2013 in which they say it appears Loomis joked about striking workers. He dismissed the partisan" social media criticism Monday. It's ridiculous to suggest that I'm anti-union or anti-worker based upon some tweet that was out (there) 10 years ago."

Matthew Van Dongen is a transportation and environment reporter at The Spectator. mvandongen@thespec.com