Some time ago, blogger Alison at Creekside noted that Stephen Harper’s majority was won by a mere 6,201 voters in 14 ridings.
Here’s the list, with the margins of victory:
Nipissing-Timiskaming (Ontario): 14
Labrador (Newfoundland & Labrador): 231
Bramalea-Gore-Malton (Ontario): 538
Etobicoke Centre (Ontario): 26
Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar (Saskatchewan): 538
Elmwood-Transcona (Manitoba): 284
Montmagny-L’islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup(Quebec): 110
Lotbinière-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière (Quebec): 777
Don Valley West (Ontario): 639
Mississauga East-Cooksville (Ontario): 661
Winnipeg South Centre (Manitoba): 696
Yukon: 132
Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River (Saskatchewan): 789
Palliser (Saskatchewan): 766
TOTAL deciding votes for the Cons: 6201
We are now informed that the voter-suppressing robocalls took place in 18 27* “swing ridings,” all as-yet unspecified except for Guelph. If there is a substantial overlap here, Elections Canada has no choice but to declare the results of the May 2, 2011 election null and void.
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*and counting!
ERRATUM: After the election, counts were finalized, with several recounts. Pundits’ Guide gives us the final tallies after all was said and done.
As reader CK points out, Montmagny-L’islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup(Quebec) went to the NDP on a recount, with a margin of 9 votes.
The next Conservative riding by margin of victory was Don Valley East (870). The final margins may be found at the Pundits’ Guide link. The total number of voters who decided Harper’s majority was 6848.