Long lines seen at advance polls
Advance polls opened Friday for the April 28 general election, and long lines are forming in some places.
I voted Friday. Last time I voted in an advance poll it was in that same building, during the second peak of Covid, and I walked right in. Nobody there except the scrutineers. Friday I had to play musical chairs with several dozen other voters for more than half an hour.
We may get a record turnout if this continues.
Updating: Elections Canada says two million people voted on Friday – a record!
walkerp 10:59 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
I went in at 8:45 just because it seemed cool to be able to vote so late. There was almost nobody there, but one of the poll workers told me it had been quite busy all day.
Chris 11:51 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
I’m jealous that you guys are able to decide who to vote for.
Kate 12:00 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
My eye did linger for a moment on the Marxist-Leninist, but then there was this guy:
jeather 12:16 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
I voted by mail because my voting locations are inconvenient.
FYI it’s ok if the cats bit it a little as long as all the info is still there and legible.
teeowe 12:28 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
I also voted by mail (expat) – now it’s up to Canada Post – oh dear 🙁
Kate 12:34 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
I had no pressing reason to vote in advance, except the advance poll was in a more accessible building. The main poll around here is always in the high school, a sprawling bit of 1970s Quebec brutalist architecture with about eight doors, although none could be called the main door. You’ll see parties of perplexed voters circling the building trying to figure out how to get inside.
MarcG 13:07 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
I also voted Friday morning in Verdun and the lines were pretty long but I figured it was simply because a lot of people had the day off work. Maybe the hoopla will generate a higher turnout.
H. John 16:18 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
I voted Friday afternoon. I’ve voted in advance since the 2000 election.
I really never paid much attention; but, I thought from past experience, each individual poll table had two staff members sharing the work of accepting and checking IDs, looking up details on the election list, and preparing and handing over a ballot.
This time at my polling station in NDG (NDG-Westmount riding) there was only one. @Kate from your experience, were you sitting alone?
Of the four polls, three had people in and out in 20 minutes or less.
Not mine.
From arrival at the back of the line until I walked out, it took an hour and fifteen minutes.
All the staff at the polling station could not have been nicer; maybe it was just day one shaking out the problems.
I was also surprised by how quickly people started to chat to each other in the line, even about their concerns and how they were making a choice (although usually in broad strokes).
Kate 17:43 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
H. John, I applied to work on this election but never heard back. I haven’t worked one since Covid.
I’ve never manned a polling table alone. A minimum of two people worked each poll table, and sometimes three. There was a sense that it was important, generally, for more than one person to witness everything that happened throughout the day.
Maybe someone simply failed to show up at your polling station? But the poll station chief should have been able to call someone else in. There are always some people floating who can be roped in. Mine had four people just sort of directing traffic and interacting with voters, and presumably one of them could have sat in at a table if needed.
Also, in my experience you always need 2 signatures on the final count for your polling section. Don’t know how that would be legal with only one.
And yes, the polling station workers were all perky as hell. Elections Canada takes seriously the notion that it should be made easy and pleasant for people to vote.
There were 2 people at the poll table I voted at.
H. John 18:14 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
@Kate Your experience matches my memories.
But this time there were four polls at the polling station (and the desk for registration). All four poll tables had only one person.
Staff providing security and information, and wondering through the outdoor line (pre-checking to speed things up), easily outnumbered the four scrutineers.
H. John 18:26 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
@Kate. On further reflection, I think your guess is right. They were short people who had been trained as scrutineers; but more than one.
When I walked into the room the person who later appeared to be in charge of the station was training the scrutineer who eventually sat down and took over my poll.
Election Canada now says their preliminary numbers show 2 million Canadians voted Friday.
MarcG 18:46 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
Verdun also only had 1 person at each station.
walkerp 19:36 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
One person per table in my riding place as well. It was 8:45 PM so maybe they reduced at the end of the shift, but it seemed like this was how it was set up. A few floaters coming around to each table, though, and checking on things, moving pieces of paper around, etc.
steph 19:56 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
45 mins in/out for me. The five tables each all had two people, except mine. No fuss.
Now to find a way to get Election Canada to remove the é from my name – who keeps adding that accent???? STOP francizing my name!
Tyler 21:15 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
Hi Kate. I worked the last municipal election as a Scrutateur, alongside a Secrétaire. As it was explained to me at the time, for provincial and municipal elections, there are two people per station, but in federal elections, these two positions are combined into one. I’m not sure if the logic is to double the number of polling stations, to cut costs, or something else, but I agree that it’s nice to have two people overseeing the proceedings.
Tim S. 22:12 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
When I did a shift as an observer in the Verdun federal byelection, during the actual count those various floating workers were assigned a table so that there were two counting each box.
EmilyG 22:19 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
I voted on Friday. There were a lot of people there.
PatrickC 22:32 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
I sent in my mail vote on Thursday (like teeowe, an ex-pat). I hadn’t realized I didn’t have to pay any postage, even though I was mailing from the US, until I got to the post office. The very cheerful clerk told me they had received an email alerting them to the arrangement. With a flourish, she stamped the envelope with date and time in front of me to show it was done. Maybe Canada is getting some love here these days…
H. John 23:15 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
The correct term is Election Officer, not scrutineer (which I used).
And the changes to the voting process were made in December 2018.
Bill C-76 – An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act
https://www.parl.ca/documentviewer/en/42-1/bill/C-76/royal-assent
CE 23:16 on 2025-04-19 Permalink
My voter card didn’t show up so I went to the Elections Canada office for my riding to make sure I was on the list (I’ve moved since the last election). When I was there, he said I could vote now if I wanted. It was a different process, there was a list of candidates for my riding and I had to write the name of candidate I was voting for on a ballot. I think you can vote at these offices no matter what riding you live in so you can vote if you’re travelling within Canada during the election. It was pretty quick but I lost out on the experience of going to my voting station which I always enjoy.
Chris 00:58 on 2025-04-20 Permalink
No party even released their full platform before Saturday; for those that voted, I’m curious, this didn’t matter to you?
H. John 02:07 on 2025-04-20 Permalink
@Chris. No it didn’t.
In this instance there was a candidate (actually party leader) that I trusted more.
Are you telling me with a straight face that in each election where you voted, you waited until you’d had the chance to read the written platform of each party.
H. John 02:23 on 2025-04-20 Permalink
@Chris Your question prompted me to search for data on how many people read party platforms.
This is the AI answer I got:
“honestly, not that many Canadians read full party platforms from start to finish.
What the research shows:
While exact numbers can vary between elections, here’s a general picture based on political science research and surveys:
• Only about 5–10% of voters read full party platforms.
• A larger group (~25–40%) might skim platforms, look at summaries, or check specific policies (especially online).
• The majority of voters (over 60%) get their information from:
• Leaders’ debates
• Media coverage
• Social media
• Party websites or campaign materials (short-form)
Platforms are more often read by:
• Political enthusiasts
• Journalists and researchers
• Candidates and campaign teams
• Interest groups and lobbyists
Why most people don’t read them:
• They’re often long and dense (60–100+ pages).
• Many voters trust party brands or leaders more than detailed policy.
• People tend to vote based on a few key issues, not the whole package.
So why do parties still publish them?
Even if few voters read them directly, platforms still:
• Shape media narratives
• Guide what candidates say on the campaign trail
• Serve as a record of promises (and a target for opposition)
• Help define a party’s vision and values”
Kate 08:53 on 2025-04-20 Permalink
Thank you for all the info, H. John, and for the update on election rules and terminology, notably “(a) removes the assignment of specific responsibilities set out in the Act to specific election officers by creating a generic category of election officer to whom all those responsibilities may be assigned.”
Tim S. 09:07 on 2025-04-20 Permalink
I have my preferred party, but on the occasions when I change my mind, it’s because of the local candidate debates. I like to see if the candidates actually have decent knowledge of the issues, both local and national, and hopefully enough backbone to stand up for themselves/their constituents when necessary. Along the way I’ve developed a lot of respect for the community groups that put on the debates. They’re a super-important part of our democracy, and we’ll miss them if they go away.
GC 09:33 on 2025-04-20 Permalink
I was curious what a record turnout would even be. According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout_in_Canada, over 79%. (Of eligible voters–not population.) Though all the times it was over 76% were before I was born. And we haven’t topped 67% since I’ve been eligible to vote.
EmilyG 12:23 on 2025-04-20 Permalink
AI answers often get things wrong, though. I don’t trust them. I look for reliable sources. AI answers often just make things up.
Ian 12:59 on 2025-04-20 Permalink
About 60% wrong, on average according to one study I recently saw. Not much better than flipping a coin or just making stuff up yourself.
Chris 14:25 on 2025-04-20 Permalink
> Are you telling me with a straight face that in each election where you voted, you waited until you’d had the chance to read the written platform of each party.
I certainly wait for the media to read and summarize them. (maybe you’d prefer an AI summary, but same idea.)
Kate 14:47 on 2025-04-20 Permalink
Chris, you can’t rely on your own assessment of the parties and their leaders based on their histories and on reports of their behaviour and the things they say? You don’t realize platforms are not concrete plans, but fictions meant to appeal to undecided voters in a pinch?
Put simply, I wouldn’t vote for Pierre Poilievre even if it turned out his Conservative Party was promising free chocolate bunnies for bloggers every day. His whole carping sub‑Trumpian attitude proved to me months ago that he wasn’t fit to be prime minister. I was dreading the possibility.
But then I’ve never voted Conservative.
Chris 18:05 on 2025-04-20 Permalink
> Chris, you can’t rely on your own assessment of the parties and their leaders based on their histories and on reports of their behaviour and the things they say?
Partially, of course. You rely exclusively on that?
>You don’t realize platforms are not concrete plans
I certainly don’t expect 100% adherence, and I certainly expect some lies and exaggerations. But it’s nevertheless an approximation of their thinking and views.
>but fictions meant to appeal to undecided voters in a pinch?
Hmm, I think that’s a bit far-fetched / pessimistic.
>Put simply, I wouldn’t vote for Pierre Poilievre even if…
Sure, but you have many other choices too.
I guess many of you are just decided no matter what at this point.
> But then I’ve never voted Conservative.
Me neither.
H. John 19:10 on 2025-04-20 Permalink
@Emily wrote “AI answers often get things wrong…”
I agree. That is also true of Wiki, and almost any online source or printed encyclopaedia. The reason I mentioned it was AI was so that people would know where I got the info. I think ChatGPT is a wonderful, time saving starting point in research. And when I used it on this question I asked GPT for the sources it was using.
I don’t read and trust, I read and verify.
H. John 20:07 on 2025-04-20 Permalink
@Chris I wasn’t trying to criticize your choice to rely on printed platforms. I was genuinely surprised.
In your reply to Kate you wrote “I guess many of you are just decided no matter what at this point.” That would seem to be a cop out. You seem to be arguing that only your system for coming to a decision for whom to vote is valid.
I’m a political junkie. My first degree was political science. I was a campaign manager for a federal candidate in three general elections (2000, 2004, and 2006).
I read the political journalists I’ve learned, with experience, to trust daily.
I listen to political podcasts or political news reports/analyses a few times a day.
David Coletto, of Abacus Data, in newspaper articles and his substack (https://davidcoletto.substack.com/p/its-about-the-futureand-the-past) has provided eye-opening explanations of why people are seeing things differently this time around.
When I didn’t understand Justin Trudeau, I turned to political scientist Brooke Jeffrey and read “The Liberal Party of Canada, 2006-2019 – Road to Redemption”.
I took the time to read Carney’s book “Value(s)”, and the recent bio of Poilievre by historian Mark Bourrie.
Before I voted, I think I did my due diligence.
I’m not disagreeing with your choice. I just think you should stop demeaning other people’s choices.
Chris 20:32 on 2025-04-20 Permalink
>You seem to be arguing that only your system for coming to a decision for whom to vote is valid.
Huh? I am doing no such thing. In fact, I’m making no argument at all. I was just curious why people would vote before valuable (IMHO) information was released. I never said doing so was *wrong*. I was genuinely surprised.
>I’m a political junkie
Me too.
>Before I voted, I think I did my due diligence.
I’m sure you did. You’ve always seemed like a wise fellow to me.
> I just think you should stop demeaning other people’s choices.
Where the heck did I demean anyone’s choices?!
Unlike all elections before this one, I find deciding this one excruciatingly difficult.
jeather 14:35 on 2025-04-21 Permalink
I voted without reading the platforms (and I still have not), and this is why:
1 – I live in a completely safe riding (~60% Liberal), so my vote is vanishingly unlikely to affect anything.
2 – I know where various parties fall, approximately, on the issues, and where I fall in relation to them, and I am only close to two parties (NDP, Green); nothing in their platforms is going to change this.
3 – I think one way to drag the Liberals left and end their rightward drift is to vote for a party that is left of them.