Lines stretched out the front doors of Powell River Recreation Centre as thousands of eager voters decided to cast early ballots over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Elections Canada staff estimated that over 2,500 Powell River voters cast ballots over the four days, Friday, October 9 to Monday, October 12.
“I haven’t been keeping a census of how many have been coming in, but it looks to me like lots of people,” said Elections Canada information officer Deborah Meier at 12:30 pm on October 9.
Meier added that people were already lining up at 11 am when she arrived to help set up and prepare the complex’s polling stations. Polls were open from 12 to 8 pm during the four days.
Donald and Elizabeth Stuef was among the first residents to vote on Friday.
“We’re here because we wanted to beat the crowds,” said Donald. “It’s handy for us to come out today instead of during the week.”
Donald added he was quite surprised by the number of people that were casting early votes.
Powell River resident Ray Peters also arrived at the Friday polling station to a lineup and said he was voting early because he was concerned he may not be able to come out on election day.
“May as well get it done early and that’s it,” said Peters. “I know I voted.”
Across the country there were similar reports at advance polls. Elections Canada estimated that 2.4 million Canadians had voted during the first three days of advanced polling, about 400,000 votes more than the three days during the 2011 federal election. The total number of advance voters this election for all four days was 3.6 million.
It was estimated that 850,000 voters cast ballots on Friday, 780,000 people voted on Saturday, 767,000 on Sunday and 1.2 million on Monday.
