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Record number of advanced votes could sway election outcome

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A Delta woman’s concerns about long wait times and unpleasant encounters at the polls didn’t seem to keep many away in 2021, seeing as the number of mail-in ballots and advance polls broke records in the country.

Around 1.2 million people cast their votes before election day. Still, record-breaking numbers mean it could take longer for voters to find out which party is in the lead, says NEWS 1130’s Parliament Hill Reporter, Cormac Mac Sweeney.

Nearly 1,000,000 mail-in ballots will be counted by the Tuesday after the election, meaning Canadians might be in for a cliffhanger this year.

“Given the number of local special ballots we have received, we expect most of the country’s 338 ridings to report the results of their local special ballot count on Tuesday, September 21, and the vast majority to finish counting by Wednesday, September 22. However, due to high volumes or logistical challenges, the full count may take up to four days in some ridings,” reads the Elections Canada website.


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Mac Sweeney says it would be highly unusual to not find out who won by Monday night. But this election, set during a global pandemic, is already highly unusual.

“It might be very difficult to call this election,” he said.

Last week, Maru Public Opinion CEO John Wright agreed, saying the race is so tight it is tough to predict.

“We’re still unable to tell who is going to win this election campaign,” Wright said.

Wright says nothing is more important than voter turnout, which was higher than expected in advance of the election this year.

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