This year’s turnout at advance polls in the Northwest Territories is estimated to be slightly greater than in 2021 according to Elections Canada data.
Elections Canada estimates 3,631 people across the NWT cast their ballots over the Easter long weekend, compared to 3,499 people who voted in advance polls in 2021 – a nearly four-percent increase.
(Separate preliminary data by riding, also from Elections Canada, showed a lower figure for the NWT. An Elections Canada spokesperson said the 3,631 figure was the best to use for comparison purposes, while stressing the numbers are preliminary only.)
An estimated 7.3 million people across Canada voted in this year’s advance polls, a 25-percent increase over the last election.
The uptick in voters packing the polls caused long waiting lines in some southern cities, though no one with whom Cabin Radio spoke in Yellowknife or Inuvik reported any delays in casting their ballots.
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Advance polls in the NWT were held in communities ranging from Yellowknife, population 22,000, to Norman Wells, where 700 people live.
NWT returning officer Liz Wyman said recruiting poll workers can be difficult across the country, due in part to the long shifts. Advance polls ran in seven communities for 12 hours daily. On election day, shifts at communities across the territory are expected to start an hour before the polls open at 7:30am and run until the ballots have been counted, which is around 11pm.
“Most people have full-time jobs in the North and so we have to ask whether they’re willing to take a day off work in order to work the polls, or we rely on our retired population,” said Wyman – noting that even then, those long days can be hard for ageing retirees.
Wyman said she’s been in touch with school principals in areas where Elections Canada has had trouble recruiting poll workers, to inquire about hiring students aged 16 and up to help fill roles.
Election day is Monday, April 28 and the polls are open from 7:30am to 7:30pm.
Cabin Radio will have live coverage on election night from 6pm via the live audio stream at cabinradio.ca or on the app.
