An estimated 7.3 million Canadians have cast their ballot in the federal election during the four-day advance voting period — setting a record turnout, according to Elections Canada.
The preliminary figure indicates a 25 per cent increase from the 5.8 million people who voted in the advance polls in the 2021 general election.
Advance polls were open from Friday, April 18 to Monday, April 21.
An estimated two million votes were cast on the first day of advance voting, setting a single-day record turnout per Elections Canada.
Historical data from Elections Canada on votes cast during advance polls dating back to the 1988 general election. Graph by Milan Lukes
Data also reveals that 1,772 votes were cast from Manitoba post-secondary campuses as part of Elections Canada’s Vote on Campus initiative, which ran from April 13 to 16.
Canadian citizens were able to cast their ballot during this time at the U of M, University of Winnipeg, Red River College and University College of the North — in addition to over a hundred other voting locations on campuses across other provinces and in the Yukon.
In total, 75,471 votes were cast as part of the Vote on Campus initiative.
Voting took place at the U of M Fort Garry campus in UMSU University Centre from April 13-16. The initiative was part of Election Canada’s cross-country Vote on Campus program. Photo by Milan Lukes
Christopher Adams, an adjunct professor in political studies at the U of M, stated that multiple factors may have caused the record turnout at the advance polls.
“I think there are people on both sides of the Conservatives and the Liberals who have strong feelings about their preferences,” said Adams, noting that support may have been “less strong” when Erin O’Toole was leader of the Conservatives and when Justin Trudeau was looking for another election victory.
Adams referenced the large rallies hosted by Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservatives, as well as Mark Carney’s decisive victory with over 85 per cent of the first-preference vote during the Liberal Party leadership race.
“I think this time around, there’s more concrete support for the choices being made,” he stated.
Adams also stated that “Trump has really mobilized Canadians” with his comments about different leaders and on Canada’s sovereignty.
He added that having advance voting on the Easter holiday may have also caused a higher voter turnout, noting that a lot of people are not working on Good Friday and may have more time.
Adams claimed that advance voting used to be “seen as an unusual thing,” typically when people were not around for election day, but stated that “now it’s seen as a very normal thing for people to be doing.”
According to a spokesperson for Elections Canada, over 940,000 people in Manitoba are registered electors, with approximately 256,900 having already cast their vote in advance.
Canada’s 45th general election will be held on April 28.
