Two Million Votes Cast At Advance Polls

Elections Canada has marked a 35 per cent increase in turnout at advance polling stations compared to 2008.

Fears of a record-low voter turnout for the election were somewhat put to rest last night, as Elections Canada reported that more than two million people cast their ballots at advance polls over the Easter weekend. That's a 35 per cent jump from the 2008 election, when about 1.5 million votes were cast. Good Friday and the following Monday also had the two highest-ever turnouts for an advance polling day, with 676,000 and 823,000 votes cast, respectively. The East Coast had the largest increases in turnout compared to 2008, with 75 per cent more Newfoundlanders and 68 per cent more Nova Scotians voting. The enthusiasm ought to see a bump in turnout overall, hopefully convincing some of the 10 million eligible voters who failed to vote in the last election to exercise their democratic duties this time around.

Read more: Guess Who’s Coming to the Polls … Maybe

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