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Over 62 per cent voter turnout on Sept. 20 federal election

Oct 1, 2021 | 3:10 PM

Elections Canada has released its estimated voter turnout from last month’s federal election.

The 44th federal election took place on Sept. 20.

Elections Canada’s preliminary estimates indicate that 17,209,000 Canadians cast a ballot. This translates into a voter turnout rate of about 62.5 per cent. Exact voter turnout numbers, however, are expected to be published in the Official Voting Results report.

Voter turnout was 67 per cent during the 43rd federal election in 2019.

Approximately:

  • 10,246,000 voted at their polling station on Election Day or in their long-term care facility.
  • 5,895,000 voted at advance polls between Friday, Sept. 10, and Monday, Sept. 13.
  • 883,000 voted by special ballot from within their electoral district.
  • 158,000 voted by special ballot from outside their electoral district (includes deployed military personnel, inmates and electors who were in Canada but outside their electoral district)
  • 27,000 electors living outside Canada voted by special ballot

To serve Canadians, Elections Canada opened 501 offices, hired around 215,000 people and offered 7,300 advance and 61,400 Election Day voting desks in 338 electoral districts.

22 registered parties were represented and 2,010 candidates were confirmed.

“I want to thank electors for their participation and patience during the election as we implemented safety measures. I know that this voting experience was different for many Canadians, and in some cases more difficult,” said Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault, in a press release. “I also want to take the opportunity to thank the returning officers and all of the election workers who worked tirelessly to deliver what was truly an unprecedented election in these challenging times.”

Elections Canada is an independent, non-partisan agency that reports directly to Parliament.