Advance polls show high interest in Winnipeg civic election

WINNIPEG – Advance polls have closed in Winnipeg’s civic election, with voter turnout higher than in the last campaign.

City officials said Friday that 30,619 voters had cast advance ballots over 18 days, an increase of 1,400 over the same period in the 2010 civic election.

There are 59 candidates vying for 15 Winnipeg city council seats and 7 candidates for mayor in the October 22nd election. It will be the first time in a decade that voters will elect a new mayor, as Sam Katz is not seeking re-election.

In the 2010 civic election, 213,321 voters cast ballots – a turnout of 47.1%.