A steady stream of Cochrane voters filed into polling stations on the first day of advance voting in the federal election.
Both the Lions Event Centre and Wills Community Hall (formerly Frank Wills Memorial Hall) saw lineups of eager voters.
Advance polling stations will be open today until 9 p.m., and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 19; Sunday, April 20; and Monday, April 21.
Elections Canada has released data on peak voting hours, indicating the shortest lineups are typically between 4 and 9 p.m. Peak voting times are being experienced from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a slight drop-off from 1 to 4 p.m.
Unlike provincial elections—where voters can cast a ballot at any polling station in their riding—during a federal election, electors must vote at their assigned polling station.
Voters can find the address of their assigned station on the back of their voter information card, by visiting elections.ca and entering their postal code, or by calling 1-800-463-6868.
To vote, electors must prove their identity and address. A list of accepted ID is available here.
Electors can also vote early:
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At any Elections Canada office, until Tuesday, April 22, at 6 p.m. (local time).
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By mail, by applying online by Tuesday, April 22, at 6 p.m., and returning their special ballot by mail (deadlines apply). If the return envelope is addressed to their local Elections Canada office, it can also be dropped off in person before polls close on election day.
Elections Canada officials said 130,000 Canadians had already voted by special ballot before today’s advance polls opened.