Doug Ford has been re-elected as premier for the third time in Ontario after the provincial elections. The Progressive Conservatives won with 2,158,452 votes, while the New Democratic Party garnered 931,796 votes and the Liberal Party received 1,594,699 votes.
J.B. Burrows the founder of Smart Voting started the website after the 2018 election due to his belief in the need for an educated voter base “We have to stop splitting the vote. We have to vote strategically” says Burrow.
Smart Voting allows people to view where their vote would be best strategically placed based on their riding area. “Getting a more educated voter base creates a more passionate citizen and ultimately betters our country,” says Burrows.
Beyond exercising a person’s right to vote, researching which candidate’s mission aligns with personal beliefs and values helps create informed voters. XFM News spoke to voters after they cast their ballots, and the majority said they researched through social media posts, candidates’ websites, and by watching debates.
Beyond Smart Voting, Burrows recommends conducting research through websites such as “Political Compass and Vote Compass”. He adds, “I think a more educated voter base is something people feel a little bit happier to participate in the electoral process when they feel educated about what’s going on.”
Elections Ontario has reported a voter turnout of 45%, making this election one of the lowest voter turnouts compared to previous years. In response to the low turnout Burrows said, “We’re really just focused on getting people to the polls, getting them to vote strategically.”
Burrows advocates for people to vote if they want to see change, “Take the two minutes to just look at what’s going on around you, how things are going, understand what level of government is responsible for that, and then do your research on who to vote for and not to vote for if you agree or disagree.”
Smart Voting has grown significantly since its creation and is composed of more than a dozen volunteers, with plans to continue expanding. “We actually have a future for this that looks pretty promising for Canadians, and we just turned on the federal model.”
Canada’s federal election is set to take place on Oct. 20, 2025, giving Canadians time to educate themselves and become informed voters.
“There are a lot of things that we need to fix, but we can’t fix it until we actually get a government that cares.”
How one website is creating educated voters
