2.4 million Canadians voted in first three days of advance polls
The voter turnout for the advance polls of this year’s federal election was massive – approximately 2.4 million people across Canada voted over the first three days of the Thanksgiving long weekend advance voting period
About 850,000 Canadians voted early on Friday, another 780,000 on Sunday, and 767,000 on Sunday. The estimates for Thanksgiving Monday have not been released at this time.
According to Elections Canada, this represents a 300,000 advance voter increase over the same three-day advance voting period during the spring 2011 federal election, which recorded over 2.1 million voters during the Easter Weekend holiday. However, unlike yesterday, advance polls were not open on that Monday holiday – Easter Monday.
While the numbers are encouraging, the experience was also frustrating for many with voters taking to social media to fume over long lines and waits of as long as two hours.
There were 3,423 advance polling stations this year, an increase of 165 compared to 2011 although some stations reportedly only had a single voting booth. An extra sign-in step at the registration desk also contributed to the waiting times, but this process will not be required on general election day.
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Advance polls closed at 8 p.m. on Monday and the final opportunity to vote early is today: Voters have until 6 p.m. Tuesday to vote at their local Elections Canada office.
The general election will be held next Monday, October 19. On that day, over 67,000 polling stations across the country will be open for 12 hours – from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in British Columbia.
For more information on where to vote in your electoral district, find out at Elections Canada’s Voter Information Service.
1.5 hour wait at Vancouver Granville advance poll, in the misty rain. Totally worth it. #elxn42 #yvr #GetOutAndVote pic.twitter.com/YzjCtcl9Cx
— Laurel Buss (@lbuss) October 13, 2015
What to do on a rainy #Thanksgiving Monday? Advance polls are open! (No make up required!) #Vancouver #Vote pic.twitter.com/O2kPrhQpjA
— Ruby Carr (@RubyZ953) October 12, 2015