With the Halifax municipal election approaching, a recent poll by Narrative Research has revealed that a significant portion of residents are still undecided about their preferred mayoral candidate.
The survey, which included nearly 500 HRM residents, found that fifty-two per cent of those surveyed are unsure or haven’t chosen a favourite candidate yet. Another six percent expressed no preference for any of the candidates listed.
Andy Fillmore is currently the most popular choice, with twenty-three per cent of the support, followed by Waye Mason at nine percent and Pam Lovelace at four per cent. No other candidates received more than one per cent of the vote.
The survey also looked at the top issues for voters in this election. Affordable housing emerged as the largest issue, with seventy percent of respondents considering it the top priority. Improving public transit was important for forty-four per cent of those surveyed, while thirty-six per cent focused on enhancing road conditions. Reducing municipal taxes was also a significant issue for thirty-two per cent of voters.
Additional concerns include better parking options downtown, increased library funding, and improvements in bike and pedestrian safety.
The results come from Narrative Research’s East Coast Voice online panel, conducted between August 8 and 21, 2024.