THUNDER BAY — As millions of Canadians head to the polls today, this federal election could smash records for voter turnout.
Elections Canada reported 7.28 million people nationwide cast votes at advance polls – the most in Canadian history and far exceeding the 5.85 million advance voters in 2021.
That’s just over a quarter of the estimated 25.5 million electors nationwide and puts this federal election on track for the highest percentage turnout since at least 1988, when 75.3 per cent of eligible voters cast ballots in an election won by the Brian Mulroney-led Progressive Conservatives.
In Ontario, 2.79 million voted at advance polls April 18-21. For Thunder Bay ridings, the numbers by Elections Canada were 11,823 in Thunder Bay–Rainy River and 14,870 in Thunder Bay–Superior North. That’s about 18 per cent of eligible voters in the former and 22 per cent in the latter riding.
Kenora–Kiiwetinoong, much larger in area but smaller in population than either of the Thunder Bay ridings, saw advance poll turnout of 7,475.
The advance poll numbers do not include people who voted by special ballot, which includes mail-in ballots and ballots cast at local Elections Canada offices before election day.
Election-day polls are open 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time and 8:30 am to 8:30 p.m. Central Time. Your poll location can be found through elections.ca’s Voter Information portal or on your voter identification card if you received one in the mail.
If you have any questions, the Thunder Bay–Rainy River returning office can be reached toll-free at 1-866-714-6417. Thunder Bay-Superior North’s Elections Canada number is 1-866-714-6422. The number for Elections Canada in Kenora–Kiiwetinoong is 1-866-241-7853.
