Halifax election 2016: City releases official results, voter turnout down

Voter turnout was down in this year’s Halifax municipal election, with the city reporting only 31.7 per cent of voters — 91, 574 people — actually cast a ballot.

In the 2012 municipal election, 37 per cent of eligible voters turned out to vote.

READ MORE: Halifax candidates raise questions surrounding integrity of municipal voting process

All councillor appointments stand after the official results were finally released after a two-day delay. The city had promised on its website that the results would be released Tuesday.

The official winners are as follows:

• Mayor: Mike Savage – 62,096 votes
• District 1: Steve Streatch – 2,245 votes
• District 2: David Hendsbee – 3,266 votes
• District 3: Bill Karsten – acclaimed
• District 4: Lorelei Nicoll – acclaimed
• District 5: Sam Austin – 2,372 votes
• District 6: Tony Mancini – 3,565 votes
• District 7: Waye Mason – 2,962 votes
• District 8: Lindell Smith – 3,418 votes
• District 9: Shawn Cleary – 3,740 votes
• District 10: Russell Walker – 2,027 votes
• District 11: Stephen Adams – 3,613 votes
• District 12: Richard Zurawski – 1,607 votes
• District 13: Matt Whitman – 4,090 votes
• District 14: Lisa Blackburn – 2,062 votes
• District 15: Steve Craig – acclaimed
• District 16: Tim Outhit – acclaimed

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After the unofficial results had been tabulated, and during the lengthy official counting process, questions have been raised about the municipal election process.

READ MORE: Halifax council candidates consider recount applications ahead of official result release

Candidates have been raising flags about polling stations, the counting of votes and information sent to voters.

Two candidates in three districts that saw tight races are planning to apply for a recount. Brad Johns, who ran as an incumbent for District 14 and lost to Lisa Blackburn, and Andrew Curran, who lost to Russell Walker in District 10, are starting the process.

The campaign team for defeated District 9 councillor Linda Mosher said they “did witness, or was informed of, a number of questionable activities related to the counting and handling of ballots in District 9,” and were waiting on the official results before deciding to ask for a recount.

Candidates have until Oct. 25 to apply for a recount.

In accordance with provincial regulations, the official count of results can’t start until 10 a.m. three days after the election.

School board officials are as follows:

• District 1: Bridget Ann Boutilier – 2,711 votes
• District 2: Nancy Jakeman – 3,653 votes
• District 3: Gin Yee – acclaimed
• District 4: Cindy Littlefair – acclaimed
• District 5: Suzy Hansen – 3,231 votes
• District 6: Linda MacKay – 3, 272 votes
• District 7: Jennifer Raven – 3,793 votes
• District 8: Dave Wright – acclaimed
• African Nova Scotian representative: Archy Beals – 1,511 votes
• Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial representative: Lucien Comeau – 1,276 votes, Marthe Craig – 898 votes, and André Surrette – 924 votes