More Hawkesbury residents voted in Monday’s municipal election than four years ago, but the overall voter turnout actually dropped, something one local community organization hopes to change before the next election.
The Hawkesbury Civic Awakening League says it’s pleased with the level of public interest and involvement surrounding the October 26 election, even though the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot fell.
According to figures shared by the organization, 3,553 residents voted this year, an increase of 175 compared to the 2022 municipal election.
However, voter turnout dropped from approximately 40 percent in 2022 to 35 percent this year. The decline is being attributed to an increase in the number of registered voters in Hawkesbury.
That means nearly two out of every three eligible voters did not participate in choosing the town’s next mayor and council.
The Civic Awakening League is hoping to build on the interest generated during this year’s election and encourage more residents to become involved in local politics.
The organization has set a goal of reaching 50 percent voter participation in the next municipal election, scheduled for 2030.
Reaching that target would mean a significant increase in the number of residents taking part in decisions that affect everything from municipal taxes and road repairs to housing, recreation and local services.
The discussion about voter participation comes as Hawkesbury prepares to welcome a new mayor.
Julie Séguin won Monday’s five-candidate mayoral race with 1,523 votes, finishing 494 votes ahead of Gilles Roch Greffe.
Séguin, who served on town council before running for mayor, has promised to make municipal government more accessible and encourage residents to become more involved in local decisions.
Following her election victory, Séguin said she wants to bring back public question periods at town hall and restore municipal committees that would give residents more opportunities to share their concerns and ideas.
According to reporting by The Review, Séguin has also emphasized that she intends to represent all Hawkesbury residents, including those who voted for another candidate or did not participate in the election.
Residents will have an opportunity to continue the conversation next week.
The Hawkesbury Civic Awakening League is organizing a public meeting with newly elected municipal representatives on Wednesday, November 4, at 7 p.m., at Le Chenail Cultural Centre.
The gathering is intended to provide an opportunity to discuss the town’s priorities over the next four years and encourage residents to remain involved beyond election day.
With a new mayor and council preparing to take office, the organization hopes the meeting will help strengthen communication between elected officials and the people they represent.
The new municipal council’s four-year term officially begins November 15.
According to an August report in The Review, the non-partisan group has been holding regular public meetings, with former Hawkesbury mayor René Berthiaume helping lead discussions.
Among the organization’s priorities are better access to municipal information, greater public involvement in budget decisions, improvements to roads and infrastructure, responsible spending and stronger support for local cultural and recreational services.
The group has also called for regular town hall-style meetings where residents can ask questions and speak directly with municipal representatives.
Several of those issues were also raised during the October 15 mayoral debate organized by Le Droit, the Hawkesbury and Region Chamber of Commerce and 92.1 GO-FM.
Candidates discussed the condition of local roads, municipal spending, economic development and ways to improve communication between town hall and residents.
For the Civic Awakening League, the next challenge will be keeping residents interested and involved now that the election is over.
The November 4 meeting will provide an early opportunity for residents to raise their concerns and discuss what they would like to see accomplished during the new council’s term.