WINNIPEG — Elections Canada is asking voters to be patient as the turnout at advanced polling stations has been significantly higher than in previous years.
Marie-France Kenny, the regional media advisor, said turnout has been much higher than expected.
Kenny said one of the problems is the process during advanced voting is longer as there are very specific rules as to who can perform what duty.
“Advanced voting used to just be for a select group of people but now it is open to all Canadians,” said Kenny. “So now we are seeing longer wait times, some up to two hours.”
One person tells Global News they had to wait 25 minutes Sunday at the polling station at River East Collegiate. There were people swearing under their breath and turning around to leave.
On Friday, polling stations across the country saw 850,000 electors vote in the advance polls. That is a 26 per cent increase over the first day of advanced polls in 2011 and a 90 per cent increase over advanced polls in 2008.
On Saturday, the second day of the advance polls, 780,000 people voted nation-wide.
That’s a 34 per cent increase from the first two days of advance polls at the 2011 federal election.
Also, Elections Canada was forced to make a change to the location of one advanced polling station in Manitoba on Monday morning.
Elections Canada said the strong winds ripped the roof off of the advanced polling station at the Elie Veterans Hall in Elie, Manitoba. Electors will be able to cast their ballot across the street at 23 Main St. on Monday.
If you didn’t have a chance to vote yet, advance polling stations are open Monday until 8 p.m.
If you can’t make it before then you will have to wait until Election Day on Oct. 19.
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