(Brady Lang/650 CKOM)

By CKOM News

Vote Increase

Millions of Canadians take advantage of advance polls

Oct 17, 2019 | 9:46 AM

Elections Canada said Tuesday that preliminary estimates show 4.7 million people cast a ballot at advance polls for this year’s election.

That’s an increase of 29 per cent over 2015’s advance poll voting data.

Joe Garcea, a professor of political science at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) said the high numbers are likely a combination of a couple of things.

“It really is a case of tremendous engagement in this particular election, and the convenience of advance polls,” said Garcea.

He said it also helps that the advance polls were open longer hours this year, and over a weekend.

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“People have enjoyed the experience of going to advance polls generally because there aren’t lineups and there seems to be greater flexibility to fit it into a weekend or some other day that works for them.”

Garcea added, “We’ll see whether this will carry over to the actual election, if we’re going to have a really high voter turnout.”

Election day is Monday Oct. 21.