Final 2021 voter turnout under 74%
(CNS): As the polls closed at 6pm Wednesday, expectations of a very high turnout for the 2021 election were not realised when the returns showed that just under 74% of electors turned out to vote. This was very slightly down from the 2017 turnout of just under 75%, though more people voted.
The total number of eligible voters this year is 17,388 but around 6,000 eligible voters did not exercise their democratic right. The turnout ranged from a low of 64% in Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman, where Moses Kirkconnell
Moses Kirkconnell (PPM): Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman MLA, Deputy Premier, Minister of District Administration, Tourism and Transport (DATT). Biography: Kirkconnell was first elected... More is expected to keep his seat, to highs of over 86% in both East End and North Side, where both incumbents are facing potential upsets.
Cayman Brac East also reflected enthusiastic voters with an 80% turnout, where Elvis McKeever is hoping for one of the bigger wins of the night by ousting the education minister and 20 year incumbent, Julianna O’Connor-Connolly.
In George Town the best turn out was in 75.7% in George Town South, where Alric Lindsay is hoping to oust PPM incumbent Barbara Conolly. Voters were even less enthusiastic in George Town East, where the new PPM leader is expected to keep his seat in a five-way race and turnout was well under the national average at 69%.
Meanwhile, in Red Bay, where the outgoing premier is hoping to hold on to his seat in a race with Sammy Jackson, the turnout was close to the national figure of 74%.
The most enthusiastic voters in Bodden Town were in Newlands, where the turnout was over 80% and where Wayne Panton
Wayne Panton: Candidate for Newlands. He was Minister for Financial Services, Commerce and Environment (2013-2017). Biography: Panton successfully ran as a PPM candidate for one... More is expected to take the seat from incumbent Alva Suckoo
Alva Suckoo: Newlands MP Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Political Career: • Deputy Leader of the Opposition- May 2017-Present• Elected Member of the district of... More, who switched during the campaign from the opposition to the PPM-Alliance.
In West Bay the biggest voter turnout was in West Bay Central, where 80% of registered voters came out in the race where Katherine Wilks-Ebanks is also looking for an upset by breaking Captain Eugene Ebanks’ 20-year run representing the district.
The battle for West Bay West between Mario Ebanks
Mario Ebanks: Candidate for West Bay West. Chief Human Resources Officer at the Cayman Islands Airports Authority. Biography: • Eighth generation Caymanian, with great-grandparents from... More and McKeeva Bush
McKeeva Bush (CDP), West Bay West MLA Speaker of the LA, Leader of the Cayman Democratic Party. Biography: Bush is the longest serving member and... More also fell short of the national average, with a poll return for voters of less than 70%.
Category: Election News
74% seems pretty good for a place where you are not forced to vote.
It’s pretty pathetic that people couldn’t be bothered to go vote. Maybe the public holiday for elections should go away and just make it where employers allow an hour (or 2 if needed) to go vote.
The voter registration is already low as a percent of eligible citizens. Now, with no shows the entire country’s direction is chosen by 17000ish voters.
The number of people not registered due to the onerous jury duty system is the real crime.
My views on voting are that all elegible citezens should be registered by law, and mildly fined for not voting.
You realise why it is called a democratic right and not mandated right?
Very disappointed in WB. You still believe this imbecile.
I imagine that is reflective of the electorate.
Dah wah ya get.
Cayman this is disappointing. 6000 people couldn’t be bothered to go out and vote today.
The majority of these races were so close that your votes could have made such a difference in our country.
Next election, we need to start early and get the youth registered and involved. I was so surprised looking at the statistics how very few are younger than 30.
Hello Cayman Islands National Election Day!
We’re watching from Florida
well ya, the candidates largely sucked. People were ready for a drastic change and were met with underwhelming status quos.
It will be interesting to compare district turnout % to incumbent / alternate win rates. (Even if it shows no trend at the end of the day.)