Despite a slow start, Edmonton Elections says this year’s advance voting numbers ended with increased turnout.
After 10 straight days of advance voting, including Edmonton’s first vote over the Thanksgiving holiday, a total of 26,198 citizens cast their ballot.
That’s up 13 per cent from the last municipal election in 2013, when 23,093 people took advantage of advance voting.
READ MORE: Edmonton candidates make final push with 1 week to go before election
“Nearly 12,000 citizens made it out to the final three days of advance voting,” Iain MacLean, the city’s director of elections, said Friday.
“Today’s turnout was the highest yet with 5,184 votes cast at the ward-based stations.”
In addition to votes done at stations in the wards, the final advance voting numbers include ballots cast at post-secondary schools and about 70 senior accommodation facilities across the city.
READ MORE: Candidates running for mayor and council in Edmonton election 2017
“We had a lot of positive comments from people thanking us for going out to those voting stations,” MacLean said.
“It is more teams on the ground, more teams going out across the city, but it’s great to give the opportunity to vote.”
On Monday, Edmonton Elections will be going to hospitals to offer the vote there.
“We’re pleased to see our numbers have picked up quite a bit this week,” MacLean said.
READ MORE: Edmonton election 2017: Advance voting numbers down
Friday is the last day that advance voting stations are open. Advance voting stations will not be open over the weekend. Election Day is Monday, Oct. 16 and polls are open between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. As long as you arrive at a polling station before 8 p.m., you are guaranteed an opportunity to cast your ballot.
During the first six days of advance voting in Edmonton, 8,495 votes were cast, including 1,254 on Thanksgiving Monday.
READ MORE: Advance voting draws big crowds in Calgary’s 2017 municipal election
To compare, Calgary saw more people cast their ballots on the first day of advance polls, with 9,670 taking advantage of the early voting opportunity.
Calgary also offered drive-thru voting this year, which is something Edmonton will consider for the next municipal election, in 2021.
READ MORE: Calgary to open drive-thru voting station for municipal election
Edmontonians can use the Where to Vote online tool to find their voting station, hours of operation and candidate list. You must bring one piece of ID that confirms your name and current address.
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