Canadians turned out in large numbers on Friday as advance voting began for the April 28 federal election, with long lines forming at polling stations nationwide.
Advance voting will continue daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Monday. Many voters said they waited over two hours to cast their ballots.
James Knight, who was voting at Ottawa City Hall, said, “I vote regularly, and I’ve never had to wait this long. Looks like it’ll take at least an hour today.”
Knight believes the high turnout is due to voter interest, not any mismanagement. “People are really engaged. This election matters.”
A long weekend gave many Canadians extra time to vote early. Reasons varied—Peter Xing in Vancouver said, “The economy is the biggest issue for me. And global politics—we need a strong leader.”
In Vancouver’s West End, some voters reported over two-hour waits. In St. John’s, Carl Aylward said he came out early in response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Canada could become the “51st state.” “We’re not for sale,” he said.
Toronto voters also reported long lines, some calling the turnout “incredible,” while others complained about slow processing.
At a Winnipeg polling site, Barbara Maguire said the line was out the door before 9:15 a.m., even in freezing temperatures. “It’s great to see this kind of enthusiasm,” she said.
In Prince George, B.C., Tracy Larson and her husband waited two and a half hours because they’ll be out of town on election day. Her husband uses a walker, making the wait difficult. “Some seniors gave up and left,” she added.
Elections Canada spokesperson Dugald Maudsley said extra staff were being brought in to help with busy stations. “Interest is high,” he noted.
He said early turnout may suggest strong voter engagement this year. Over 130,000 people have already voted by special ballot—more than double compared to this point in 2021. Even overseas Canadians are requesting more voting kits than ever.
Maudsley advised voters to go before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to avoid long waits and suggested bringing voter info cards for faster processing. On Tuesday, voting will take place in hospitals and care facilities. It’s also the last day to vote at local offices or apply to vote by mail.