For the first time in more than two decades, voter turnout increased in Ontario compared to the previous provincial election.

Elections Ontario says unofficial results from yesterday's election indicate 52.1 per cent of the province's 9.2 million eligible voters cast their ballots.

That means 4.8 million Ontarians had a say in shaping the government.

That's an improvement from a historic low in the last provincial election in 2011, when 48.2 per cent of eligible voters went to the polls.

In the highly contested Windsor West, 36, 341 residents hit the polls, equalling to 43.3 per cent voter turnout for the riding. NDP victor, Lisa Gretzky secured the position with 14, 998 votes, followed by incumbent Teresa Piruzza with 13, 976.

In Windsor-Tecumseh, voter turnout was slightly lower at 42.7 per cent. Incumbent Percy Hatfield was re-elected, acquiring 22, 826 votes. It was a similar scene in Essex, where NDP incumbent Taras Natyshak was re-elected with a commanding 28, 092 votes. Voter turnout there was 50.4 per cent.

Chatham-Kent-Essex had the highest local turnout with 50.7 per cent. Progressive Conservative incumbent Rick Nicholls was re-elected with 14, 183 votes.

With files from The Canadian Press.