How do we get more people to vote?

[Markster]

Okay, let's get some actual data in this thread, instead of just talking about how Doom And Gloom everything is.

Actual turnout figures from here

Kitchener


    2014 voter turnout: 29.94 per cent. Figures on ballots cast and eligible voters not yet available.
    2010 turnout: 27.41 per cent, according to the city.
    2006 voter turnout: 25.48 per cent or 37,464 out of 147,042 eligible votes.

Waterloo

    2014 voter turnout: 35.93 per cent or 25,750 ballots cast out of 71,667 eligible voters.
    2010 voter turnout: 41.16 per cent or 27,253 ballots cast cast of 66,206 eligible voters.
    2006 voter turnout: 28.66 per cent or 22,927 ballots cast out of 79,997 eligible voters.

Cambridge

    2014 voter turnout: 29.89 per cent or 25,679 ballots cast out of 85,922 eligible voters.
    2010 voter turnout: 28.71 per cent or 23,924 ballots cast out of 83,329 eligible voters.
    2006 voter turnout: 26.33 per cent or 22,521 ballots cast out of 85,547 eligible voters.

Guelph

    2014 voter turnout: 44.97 percent or 38,933 ballots cast out of 86,574 eligible voters.
    2010 voter turnout: 33.9 percent or 28,072 ballots cast out of 82,794 eligible voters.

North Dumfries township

    2014 voter turnout: 39.63 per cent or 3,037 ballots cast out of 7,663 eligible voters.
    2010 voter turnout: 48.64 per cent, or 3,441 ballots cast out of  7,075 eligible voters.
    2006 voter turnout: 26.81 per cent, or 1,951 ballots cast out of 7,276 eligible voters.

Wellesley township

    2014 voter turnout: 29.3 per cent, with a total of 7,658 eligible voters.
    2010 voter turnout: 11.49 per cent or 846 ballots cast out of 7,365 eligible voters.
    2006 voter turnout: 31.37 per cent or 2,206 ballots cast out of 7,033 eligible voters.

Wilmot township

    2014 voter turnout: 40.6 per cent, or 6,115 ballots cast out of 15,095 eligible voters
    2010 voter turnout: 47.15 per cent, or 6,782 ballots cast out of 14,384 eligible voters
    2006 voter turnout: 24.7 per cent, or 3,317 ballots cast out of 13,403 eligible voters

Woolwich township

    2014 voter turnout: 36.9 percent, 6,637 and 17,985 eligible voters (unofficial)
    2010 voter turnout: 36.26 percent 6,089 ballots cast or 16,794 eligible voters
    2006 voter turnout: 27.03 percent or 4,205 ballots cast out of 15,559 eligible voters  

I don't see a particular crisis in civic engagement here.  In fact, contrary to headline on the article, I see distinct, steady improvement in Cambridge and Kitchener.  Even Waterloo's 2010 results are likely an outlier, as that was a mufti-referrendum ballot.