Canada

Canadian Election: Record 7.3M Vote in Advance Polls

APR 23 2025·Updated APR 28 2025

Story

Above: People make their way to a polling station in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, on April 20, 2025. Image credit: Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Facts

Elections Canada on Tuesday reported that a record 7.3 million voters participated in advance polling over the four-day Easter weekend, marking a 25% increase from the 5.8 million advance ballots cast in the 2021 federal election.
Elections Canada
The surge in early voting included a single-day record of approximately two million voters on Good Friday, with many polling stations experiencing lengthy wait times of up to an hour across various regions of the country.
CBC
The Economic Times
Out of Canada’s 41 million people, approximately 28.2 million were registered to vote at the start of the April 28 federal election campaign, with advance voting accounting for roughly one-quarter of registered voters.
The Globe and Mail
guardian
Compared to the 2021 election, there are roughly 700,000 more registered voters for the 2025 campaign. In 2021, more Canadians voted early than in 2019, yet overall voter turnout declined from 67% to 62%.
InsideHalton.com
CBC
Elections Canada will publish detailed breakdowns of advance polling numbers by province and electoral district later this week, providing deeper insight into regional voting patterns.
National Post
The Globe and Mail
Current aggregated polling data shows the Liberals leading with 43.1% support, followed by the Conservatives at 38.4%. Despite a tightening race, the Liberals maintain leads in key regions such as Ontario and Quebec, while the Conservatives have made gains in Atlantic Canada.
Writ
Poliwave

Sources Split

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RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

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ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The record-breaking advance turnout demonstrates unprecedented voter engagement, signaling that Canadians recognize the stakes of this election. With many focusing on the country’s economic future and its relationship with the U.S., Conservatives push for a populist agenda aimed at growth, while Liberals stress the need for stability and resilience against U.S. pressures.

The Globe and Mail

Narrative B

The high advance turnout might not necessarily indicate higher overall voter participation. While a record 7.3 million Canadians voted early this year, it’s unclear if this will translate to a rise in final turnout. In 2021, despite more people using advance polls, overall participation dropped from 67% to 62%, showing that early voting doesn't always lead to a higher final count.

CBC