Nationwide spike in advance voting sparks hope that P.E.I. turnout is on the rise [Video]

A whopping 7.3 million Canadians stood in line to cast federal ballots over the long weekend, according to Elections Canada, marking a rise of 25 per cent compared to the 2021 general election. 

Among those waiting were Prince Edward Islanders, some of whom waited in lines for more than an hour to cast their ballots. 

That has prompted some hope that voter turnout is increasing in P.E.I. after a long decline. 

“This is an indication that the public is very engaged and they are very concerned about the outcome,” said Don Desserud, a political scientist based at the University of Prince Edward Island. 

Françoise Enguehard of Elections Canada echoes Desserud’s sentiments. 

“At Elections Canada, what we want to do is make sure that people have the opportunity to vote, have the information they need to vote,” said Enguehard, the media relations advisor for the Atlantic region for Canada’s independent federal voting agency.