12/05/2025
Big news for democracy in Ontario!
Elections Ontario has shared data from the February 2025 election showing something remarkable: voter turnout among 18- to 24-year-olds increased by 9%, and new and updated voter registration in the same age group more than doubled to 29%. This happened in an election when overall voter turnout was flat, and voter turnout of those 65 and older actually declined.*
For those of us working to strengthen democratic engagement, this is more than a promising statistic. It’s evidence of what’s possible when we invest in meaningful, sustained engagement.
On behalf of , the Democratic Engagement Exchange, in partnership with , led a province-wide campaign to reach young people where they are. We were on 47 college and university campuses across the province. This new data affirms what our work has long shown: when you meet youth with relevant information, accessible tools, and a sense of collective purpose, they show up.
We look forward to continuing to work with Election Ontario, EMBs across Canada, community partners, students and post-secondary institutions to ensure that participation is easy and meaningful for every voter across the province and the country.
*NOTE: Turnout data is based on all registered electors. It does not include data on electors who may be eligible to vote but are not registered.
