Advance Voting in Canada Breaks Records with Nearly 2 Million Ballots Cast on Day One

Advance voting in Canada kicked off with a historic start on Friday as nearly two million Canadians cast their ballots, according to Elections Canada. This marks the highest single-day turnout ever recorded for early voting, signaling a surge in civic participation ahead of the federal election.

With long lines reported in cities across the country, the non-partisan agency confirmed that the first day of advance polls saw 36% more voters compared to the same day in 2021.

Advance Polls Open with Strong Engagement

Voters across the country formed long lines outside polling stations, from Ottawa to Metro Vancouver. Some reported waiting more than two hours to cast their ballots.

“It makes us very happy,” said François Enguehard, Elections Canada’s regional media advisor for the Atlantic region. “This is why over 250,000 people and Elections Canada staff work so hard—to make this happen.”

While it’s still early to predict overall voter turnout, Enguehard said the surge on day one shows that Canadians are engaged and eager to vote in this election.

Advance Voting Details

Advance voting is open to registered voters from April 19 to 21, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. at assigned polling stations. Your voter information card (received by April 11) contains your polling location, which may differ from your election day site.

Can’t find your card? You can look up your polling station at the Elections Canada website or call 1-800-463-6868.

Canadians React to Long Wait Times

Voters seemed more motivated than frustrated despite long wait times.

“I vote all the time and I’ve never had to wait this long,” said James Knight, who stood in line at Ottawa City Hall. “But this looks like a good sign. People want their voices heard.”

In Vancouver’s West End and Langley, voters echoed similar stories of longer-than-usual waits, but many saw it as a positive reflection of voter engagement.

“I’ve never waited this long, but I’m glad people are showing up,” said Barb Stroll from Metro Vancouver. “Hopefully it’s a sign of change.”

Looking Ahead

During the 2021 federal election, 5.8 million Canadians voted early, contributing to a 62.6% voter turnout overall. With nearly two million votes already cast, this election could potentially surpass previous participation levels, depending on turnout in the days to come.

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