Local news delivered daily to your email inbox. Subscribe for FREE to the rdnewsNOW newsletter.
(The Canadian Press)
strong early turnout

Elections Canada reporting increased turnout at advance polls

Oct 15, 2019 | 11:43 AM

OTTAWA, ON. — Elections Canada is reporting an increase in advance poll turnout for the federal election nationwide compared to 2015.

According to preliminary data released Tuesday, Elections Canada says approximately two million people cast ballots during the first two days of advance polls, which ran Friday and Saturday, representing a 25 per cent increase from the same time period during the 2015 election, where 1.6 million advance votes were cast.

Elections Canada spokesperson Leanne Nyirfa says they noticed an increase in advance voting in the 2015 election, and made preparations to help accommodate those voters.

“For 2019, we increased the number of hours for the polling stations,” she said. “For 2015, the polls were open from noon – 8 p.m. for the four days. In this election, we had them open 12 hours, from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Across the country, we also had 25 per cent more polling locations, so we had a few more places to vote. We also had an extensive campaign, where we let people know that the advance polls are going to be available.”

Elections Canada says this number does not include people who voted in local Elections Canada offices, by special ballot or on college and university campuses as part of the Vote on Campus program.

Advance polls closed on Monday. Elections Canada says final turnout numbers for advance polls will be released on Wednesday.

Those who weren’t able to make it to the advance polls this weekend have one final opportunity to cast their vote ahead of election day on October 21.

Voters can cast a ballot at an Elections Canada office in their riding until 6 p.m. this evening (Tues. Oct. 15).

Elections Canada has offices in Red Deer-Mountain View at 5889-47 Street in Red Deer, and in Red Deer-Lacombe at 5001-52 Street in Lacombe.

(With file from Charles Lefebvre, CHAT News Today)

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the rdnewsNOW newsletter here. You can also download the rdnewsNOW mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.