Brockville, Ont. voters flock to advance polls on Easter Sunday

Brockville, Ont. voters came out in droves to advance polls Easter Sunday after a record-breaking number of advanced ballots were cast nationally Friday.

At an advance poll at the Brockville Country Club on Easter Sunday, voters in the riding of Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes were excited to cast their ballots and make their voices heard.

“This is my first time voting early actually,” said voter Ian Bridger. “Extremely quick today, probably five to 10 minutes.”

There are 23 advance polls in the riding, which will be open until Monday. The riding includes Brockville, Gananoque, Prescott, the municipality of North Grenville, and the villages of Merrickville-Wolford and Westport.

Brockville resident Corinne Johnson also voted at an advance poll for the first time.

“It’s an important vote. I thought we really want to make sure that we do this,” she said.

“It’s about the future, this vote.”

Johnson cited concerns with Canada’s image internationally as the main reason she wanted her voice heard.

“I think it’s important that we vote to keep Canada together and strong.”

That’s a sentiment voter Lori Halfper agrees with. She usually votes at advance polls, but said it’s more important during this election.

“People probably stayed home in previous year’s elections because it wasn’t that critical,” said Halfper.

“I think this year it’s like, ‘God, there’s never been a more important election.’ You have to have your say or you don’t get to complain.”

Elections Canada reported that a record-setting two million people voted at advance polls across the country Friday, the first of four days of advanced voting in the federal election.

“It’s really encouraging to see people take the time on a holiday Friday,” said Elections Canada spokesperson Diane Benson in an interview with CTV News.

Elections Canada said advance polls have become busier every year due to the flexibility they offer voters, with four consecutive days to cast a ballot.

“We do plan for higher voter turnout at advance polls for each election, because that has been a trend probably over the last three elections, maybe even four,” Benson explained.

Nearly five million people voted at advance polls in the 2019 election, and 5.8 million did so in the 2021 election.

Advance polling centres are open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday will be the final day of advanced voting before election day on April 28.

List of candidates in Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes

• Michael Barrett - Conservative Party of Canada
• Lorna Jean Edmonds - Liberal Party of Canada
• Paul Lancione - New Democratic Party
• Randi Ramdeen - Green Party of Canada
• Hailey Simpson - People’s Party of Canada