More Richmond voters opted to cast a ballot at advance polls this upcoming federal election.
Preliminary data from Elections Canada shows that advance voter turnout is up in Richmond’s two ridings, compared to the previous federal election in 2019.
Advance voting, which took place over four consecutive days, ended on Monday, Sept. 13.
In Richmond Centre, 9,312 voters headed to advance polls, compared to 8,566 in 2019, an increase of 8.4 per cent.
Meanwhile, 13,063 electors in Steveston-Richmond East voted early, up 12.4 per cent from 11,620 during the previous federal election.
Across the country, advance voter turnout was up about 18.5 per cent, with 5,780,000 electors voting early compared to 2019’s advance voter turnout of 4,879,312, according to the preliminary data.
“I want to thank the electors who took advantage of advance polls for their patience and their help in making this a safe experience for everyone,” said Stéphane Perrault, chief electoral officer with Elections Canada, in a statement.
Meanwhile, more than one million special ballot voting kits have been issued to electors across Canada.
While this number includes those who opted to vote in-person at an Elections Canada office in their own riding rather than at a polling location, it is “mostly mail-in” voting kits, Elections Canada told the Richmond News earlier this week.
In comparison, approximately 5,000 people voted by mail from their own ridings, across the country, during the last federal election.
Election Day is on Monday, Sept. 20.
