Voter turnout increases in Ontario election for first time in more than 20 years

TORONTO - For the first time in more than two decades, voter turnout increased in Ontario compared to the previous provincial election.

Elections Ontario says unofficial results from yesterday's election indicate 52.1 per cent of the province's 9.2 million eligible voters cast their ballots.

That means 4.8 million Ontarians had a say in shaping the government.

That's an improvement from a historic low in the last provincial election in 2011, when 48.2 per cent of eligible voters went to the polls.

Ontario's Liberals secured a majority, winning their fourth straight mandate.

The Progressive Conservatives lost 10 seats, prompting party leader Tim Hudak to announce his plan to resign, and the NDP maintained their status as the third party.