Just one in five eligible voters in Lethbridge cast a ballot in last month’s city hall elections.

At only 19.4 per cent, the participation rate was half that of Calgary, where falling figures are raising concern .

“It’s shockingly low, even for municipal politics,” said Trevor Harrison, a retired sociology professor at the University of Lethbridge.

Turnout has ranged from 30 to 35 per cent over the last five local elections — rates typical of most of Alberta’s mid-sized cities.

This year, however, it was down almost across the board.

Harrison argues the common factor is a set of new provincial voting regulations that may have dissuaded voters.

“They aren’t in any single locale. It seems that pretty much across the province [that] a lot of voters are very upset, mainly upset with

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