More than 815,000 Albertans contributed to the record-setting advance voter turnout across the country.
According to Elections Canada, an estimated 815,131 Albertans cast their ballot at advance polling stations between April 18 and 21.
Alberta’s tally marks a 26 per cent increase from advance voter turnout recorded in 2021, when 646,090 residents cast their ballots early.
Nationally, 7.28 million Canadians voted in advance polls, marking a 25 per cent increase from the 5.8 million cast in 2021.
Albertans’ votes made up approximately 11 per cent of the total votes cast across the nation.
Other provinces and territories also saw increased totals at advance polls this year:
- British Columbia: 1,104,151
- Manitoba: 229,379
- New Brunswick: 202,006
- Newfoundland and Labrador: 75,691
- Northwest Territories: 3,631
- Nova Scotia: 210,030
- Nunavut: 967
- Ontario : 2,792,881
- Prince Edward Island: 40,015
- Quebec: 1,595,591
- Saskatchewan: 206,754
- Yukon: 4,748
Elections Canada says it added more advance polling locations for this election.
“We had 3,755 advanced polling locations; in 2021 there were 3,667 across the country,” Leanne Nyirfa, an Elections Canada spokesperson, said.
“In particular, more locations were added in provinces that had additional electoral districts that came about following the redistribution of electoral district boundaries.”
Elections Canada notes these are preliminary estimates.
Voter turnout across the country dipped to 62.6 per cent in 2021, down from 67 per cent and 68.3 per cent in 2019 and 2015, respectively.
Election day is on Monday, April 28. Advance polls have closed and the deadline to apply to vote by mail has passed.
Canadians can vote at their assigned polling station on election day. Polls will be open in the mountain time zone from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
According to Elections Canada, peak voting times on election day are usually in the early morning and after 4 p.m. The 10 a.m. to noon period is generally a bit less busy, while the noon to 4 p.m. range is the least busy.
Visit Elections Canada’s website to find your polling station and confirm your voter information. If you are not registered to vote, you can register when you go to vote at your assigned polling station.
