High Advance Poll numbers for PEI ridings

High Advance Poll numbers for PEI ridings

S. Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Advance voting poll turnout was up 34 per cent in both the Egmont and Malpeque ridings Friday, Saturday and Monday.

A news release from Elections Canada showed the Egmont riding’s numbers rise from 2,847 in 2008 to 3,828 this year while Malpeque saw voters go from 2,406 in 2008 to 3,214. Prince Edward Island seen rises in all the ridings except Charlottetown, which was down seven per cent. The Cardigan riding saw their turnout rise 49 per cent to 3,685.

Preliminary figures for Canada seen advanced polling numbers rise from 1.5 million to two million over the three days, with Friday and Monday being the busiest advance polling days ever.

The Election’s act requires that advanced polling be done on the tenth, ninth and seventh day before an election.

Guy Gallant, Egmont Liberal candidate, said anytime you see any voter turnout go up it’s a win for democracy.

“I’ve been told that a lot of the youths were seen at the polls on the weekend, especially with a lot of them being home for Easter from University. It’s quite encouraging to see a youth population come out and vote too.”

Gallant said he hopes this is a sign voter participation for the election will be higher than the last election.

“A 60 per cent voter turnout in 2008 is pretty discouraging when we look at what’s at stake, the future of our country. The higher, the better.”

Jacquie Robichaud, the NDP Egmont Candidate, said she thought it was great to see numbers up and that they’ve been telling voters about the advance polls on her campaign stops.

“I was going around to people that had been involved in campaigns in the past and they didn’t realize what the advance poll meant, and that was our own people,” she said. “I was at every door, especially the seniors, telling the date of the advance poll.”

She said she thinks it is going to mean a higher voter turnout for the election.

“I think it’s great and I think it shows that overall more people are going to vote this time.”

In the Malpeque riding, Conservative candidate Tim Ogilvie said he thinks it had a lot to do with good voter interest, and the Easter holiday allowing for people to get out and vote.

”I’m sensing very good interest at the doors in terms of the race and the issues.”

Ogilvie said that he’s hopeful that the rise in voter turnout for advance polls will foreshadow election day.

“I’m heartened by the turnout and interest in that it could be evidence of the fact that I’ve seen a lot of positive support at the doors and that people might be interested in change.”