Less than a fortnight remains until the provincial byelection in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, and some residents in the area express surprise at the upcoming vote scheduled for September 3. Lucas Cook, 21, mentioned spotting political signs but admitted to a lack of awareness regarding the election. Another resident, Anthony Samuel, 37, echoed this sentiment, stating he hadn’t been following the election closely.
This lack of awareness is a common issue during byelections, according to experts, as turnout tends to be lower compared to general elections. Following Progressive Conservative MPP Neil Lumsden’s retirement on August 4, six candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for the vacant spot.
The byelection in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek is one of three being held concurrently, alongside Scarborough Southwest and York-Simcoe in Toronto. John Beebe, founder of the Democratic Engagement Exchange at Toronto Metropolitan University, emphasizes the importance of engaging voters to make them feel heard and impactful.
Historically, byelections witness significantly lower voter turnout compared to general elections. For instance, the 2023 provincial byelection in Hamilton Centre saw a 21% voter turnout, whereas the 2025 provincial election in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek recorded a 43.8% turnout with 89,584 eligible voters.
Stefan Dolgert, a political science associate professor at Brock University, notes that lower turnout may stem from individuals feeling disconnected from the political process unless there is a direct personal connection. He highlights the need for “hot button” issues to capture people’s attention and drive them to the polls.
Beebe stresses that individual votes hold significance, even in byelections that may not sway the ruling party. He emphasizes that parties pay close attention to vote margins, making every vote impactful in shaping decisions. Elections Ontario is actively working to simplify the voting process, with advance voting scheduled from August 26 to 28, and voter information cards being distributed to households in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek.
