Elections Canada announces record turnout on first day of advance voting

Elections Canada has announced preliminary estimates that show nearly two million electors voted Friday, the first day of advance polls.

Representatives of the non-partisan agency said that's a record turnout.

The announcement, which was posted on social media Saturday afternoon, came after Canadians reported long lines across the country on Friday. Some told CBC News on Friday they waited more than two hours to cast their ballots.

François Enguehard, a regional media advisor in the Atlantic region for Elections Canada, said the turnout is up 36 per cent from the first day of advance polling in the last election in 2021.

"It makes us very happy because that's why 250,000 people plus all of Elections Canada staff — that's what we work towards," Enguehard said. "To see the uptake is really comforting for people who have done so much in the polling locations to make that happen."

Enguehard said it's too early to say whether the record-high turnout will lead to higher voter turnout for the election overall. But it is a sign that "people are engaged in this election and eager to vote."

During the 2021 federal election, almost 5.8 million voters turned out for for advance polls.

A total of 17,209,811 voters cast their ballots in that election, representing a voter turnout of 62.6 per cent.

"I vote all the time and I've never had to wait for very long, normally. This is going to be an hour apparently," said James Knight on Friday, waiting to vote at Ottawa City Hall.

Knight said he believed the long wait was due to people's enthusiasm to cast their ballots, rather than any disorganization on the part of Elections Canada.

It was a similar story in Metro Vancouver, where some voters in Vancouver's West End said they were in line for more than two hours at a polling station. Meanwhile, a voter in Langley, B.C. said she had the longest wait for advance voting in her life.

WATCH | Advance polls open across Canada for the federal election:

With just 10 days to go until election day, advance polls open Friday across the country for those who want to vote before April 28. Registered voters can cast an early ballot at their assigned polling station between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. from April 18-21. Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/1.7513017.

"Hopefully it's a sign of things to come, and a sign of things for change," said Barb Stroll, who was at Douglas Park Elementary School in the Metro Vancouver suburb.

Registered voters can cast an early ballot at their assigned polling station between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. from April 19-21.

Voter information cards, which registered voters should have received in the mail by April 11, will provide the location of the assigned polling station for advance voting. Election day stations may be at a different address.

Registered voters can also search for their advance polling station here or call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868.