Elections Alberta recorded 317,461 votes in two days.
Advance voting is popular in Alberta with more and more voters turning to this process which is growing in popularity from ballot to ballot.
Elections Alberta cast 161,830 votes Tuesday in the first day of advance voting for the May 29 provincial election.
This is a record number, according to Elections Alberta spokeswoman Robyn Bell. We also had a high turnout [Wednesday] with around 155,000 people [voting].
In all, 317,461 voters exercised their right for these first two days of voting. This tally is higher than that observed in the last elections of 2019 where around 276,000 people went to the polls in the first two days of advance voting.
Note that these data are largely higher than the advance polling total counted in 2015, when 235,000 Albertans cast their ballots in four days.
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According to Robyn Bell, more people have been voting early in the past two elections, but “it's hard to know why this trend is happening. ”
One of the explanations would be the introduction of a service from Elections Alberta allowing you to vote in advance in a polling station other than the one to which you are assigned, theorizes Robyn Bell.
In addition, the convenience of advance voting may play a role, according to some voters.
It was hassle-free, and super easy too. It was also a lot faster than I thought!, said Garth Prinsonky.
There are quite convenient places all over Alberta and in cities [to vote in anticipation], added Chris Klok, another voter.
“I had to wait in line on election day before. So, it's nice to do this quickly.
—Chris Klok, voter.
Advance voting is available until Saturday, May 27.
According to Elections Alberta, polling stations are located in popular places, such as university campuses, libraries or shopping malls.
There are also measures to make it easier for people affected by forest fires to vote. Robyn Bell says that it is thus possible to vote in emergency centers for evacuees.
With information from Travis McEwan, and Athena Couture.< /em>
