Advance voter turnout for Thursday’s provincial election is down in the London region as it is across the province.
It could be due to voter fatigue.
But the only riding where it isn’t down, is in London West where there have been three elections in three years.
Ali Chahbar ran in the last byelection and provincial election for the Conservatives. He says there's definitely a difference between the first and second elections in two years.
“There is a difference between the mood in 2011- where it was the first election we've had in a while - and then a byelection. And then another election. I think that voter fatigue is out there.”
Voters agree.
Kelly Dertinger says while she’s not tired of all the elections, she is “underwhelmed because nothing seems to change and we just keep having elections.”
Political science experts say there could be a few things factoring into voter fatigue.
“Election after election after election, voters tend to question the value of showing up at the polls at election time,” says Fanshawe College’s Matt Farrell.
And attack ads could be another factor.
“In that context, really what that does is serves to depress voters. If every message you hear as a voter is negative, than what's really the incentive ? What's going to get you out of the house to vote?"
Experts say the stage is set for another disappointing voter turnout.
They say voters are usually driven to the polls by a hot-button campaign issue or an economic crisis, but none of those reasons are in play this time.
They say the main party leaders haven't helped the situation, either.
Queen's University politics professor Jonathan Rose describes Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne, Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak and NDP chief Andrea Horwath as "uninspiring."
Pollsters suspect the election will be decided by which party has the most effective organization and can get more supporters out to cast their ballots.
Ontarians go to the polls tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
With files from The Canadian Press
