2 weeks until filing deadline, some municipal races in Waterloo region have few — or no — candidates

There's less than two weeks until the filing deadline for people wanting to run in this October's municipal and school board trustee elections.

With Aug. 19 at 2 p.m. fast approaching, there are some races in Waterloo region and Guelph that have one — or even no — candidates as of Friday at noon.

There's one candidate in four local mayoral races: Waterloo, North Dumfries, Wellesley and Guelph.

In the townships, there are some councillor races where no one has signed up to run yet.

That's "a bit worrisome," says Tim Mau, an associate professor of political science at the University of Guelph.

But, he adds, it may also be strategic.

"Sometimes people do wait till the end. Incumbents often like to hold on and make a final decision late in the game," Mau told CBC News.

"But if there's absolutely no candidates in a particular ward running for the upcoming election, that is definitely concerning."

Mau says traditionally, municipal elections don't capture people the way provincial or federal elections might and there's often lower voter turnout. 

For example, voter turnout in this past June's provincial election in Waterloo region's five ridings ranged from 42 per cent to 49 per cent.

In the 2018 municipal election, the highest voter turnout was in Waterloo with 34 per cent, but that was down slightly from 2014 when 36 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot.

Cambridge was the second highest voting turnout in the region in 2018 with 33 per cent, which was up from 30 per cent in 2014.

Guelph's voter participation saw a dip in 2018 when 37 percent of eligible voters went to the polls, down from 45 per cent in 2014. The difference there may be that in 2014, online voting was used but it wasn't in 2018.

"We have this curious situation whereby at the local level, the issues that your local councillor are dealing with have the most direct and immediate impact on your day to day life and the quality of life that you have within your community. And yet so few people bother to turn out and vote after the election," Mau said.