Vote: polls close at 7:30 p.m. on April 28

By Glen Mazza
Editor

On Tuesday, Elections Canada revealed that from April 18 to 21, about 7.3 million Canadians cast ballots at advance polls. That’s an increase of about 25 per cent above the 5.8 million people who cast early ballots in the general election in 2021.

Heather Kennedy, returning officer for the Yellowhead riding, did not have any numbers for this riding, but noted that advanced polls “had a really good turnout.”

Nationally, voter turnout is expected to be higher than in any federal election since 1988, according to one election analyst.

In that year, 75.3 per cent of Canadians went to the polls because a trade deal with the U.S. was a hot topic.
Even though 71.8 per cent of eligible voters cast ballots in the 1992 referendum on the Charlottetown Accord, no federal general election has seen a turnout of 70 per cent or more since then.

The most recent federal election in Canada was conducted on September 20, 2021, and 62.6 per cent of the eligible electors went to the polls.

Richard Theoret, a spokesman for Elections Canada, announced that advance poll turnouts will be made available online on Wednesday, broken down by riding and province.

Advance polls and voting at Elections Canada offices has now ended, so the only other option is to vote on April 28.

On election day, assigned polls are open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Voters who did not register by April 22 may register at their assigned polling station just before they vote on election day. Proper procedures are needed to do so and electors needing more information can call 1-800-463-6868.

The Yellowhead constituency ballot has Vicky Bayford – People’s Party of Canada, Michael Fark – Liberal Party of Canada, Dale Heath – Christian Heritage Party of Canada, Avni Soma – New Democratic Party and William Stevenson – Conservative Party of Canada.