Elections Canada has introduced preliminary estimates that present practically two million electors voted Friday, the primary day of advance polls.
Representatives of the non-partisan company mentioned that is a file turnout.
The announcement, which was posted on social media Saturday afternoon, got here after Canadians reported lengthy traces throughout the nation on Friday. Some instructed CBC Information on Friday they waited greater than two hours to solid their ballots.
François Enguehard, a regional media advisor within the Atlantic area for Elections Canada, mentioned the turnout is up 36 per cent from the primary day of advance polling in the final election in 2021.
“It makes us very joyful as a result of that is why 250,000 individuals plus all of Elections Canada workers — that is what we work in the direction of,” Enguehard mentioned. “To see the uptake is basically comforting for individuals who have accomplished a lot within the polling areas to make that occur.”
Preliminary estimates present that close to 2M electors voted final Friday on the primary day of advance polls. A file quantity! To all of the electors who needed to wait in line, thanks on your persistence!
We’re going to proceed to regulate over the following few days to deal with the excessive site visitors! pic.twitter.com/mqn9M0VfUA
Enguehard mentioned it is too early to say whether or not the record-high turnout will result in greater voter turnout for the election general. However it’s a signal that “persons are engaged on this election and wanting to vote.”
Throughout the 2021 federal election, virtually 5.8 million voters turned out for advance polls.
A complete of 17,209,811 voters solid their ballots in that election, representing a voter turnout of 62.6 per cent.
Canadians report lengthy traces
“I vote on a regular basis and I’ve by no means needed to look ahead to very lengthy, usually. That is going to be an hour apparently,” mentioned James Knight on Friday, ready to vote at Ottawa City Hall.
Knight mentioned he believed the lengthy wait was as a consequence of individuals’s enthusiasm to solid their ballots, slightly than any disorganization on the a part of Elections Canada.
It was an identical story in Metro Vancouver, the place some voters in Vancouver’s West End mentioned they had been in line for greater than two hours at a polling station. In the meantime, a voter in Langley, B.C. mentioned she had the longest look ahead to advance voting in her life.
With simply 10 days to go till election day, advance polls open Friday throughout the nation for individuals who wish to vote earlier than April 28. Registered voters can solid an early poll at their assigned polling station between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. from April 18-21.
Learn extra: https://www.cbc.ca/1.7513017.
“Hopefully it is a signal of issues to come back, and an indication of issues for change,” mentioned Barb Stroll, who was at Douglas Park Elementary College within the Metro Vancouver suburb.
Registered voters can solid an early poll at their assigned polling station between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. from April 19-21.
Voter data playing cards, which registered voters ought to have obtained within the mail by April 11, will present the situation of the assigned polling station for advance voting. Election day stations could also be at a unique tackle.
Registered voters also can seek for their advance polling station here or name Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868.
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