Nearly 2 million people vote on day 1 of advance polls, new record set

Elections Canada says early voters set a new record for turnout on the first day of advanced polls.

Nearly two million people showed up to cast a ballot on Friday, the first of four days for advanced voting in the federal election.

Many of those voters were met with long lineups at polling stations across the country.

Elections Canada says it will be making adjustments over the coming days to handle the high traffic.

Almost 5.8 million voters turned out for advanced polls in the last federal election in 2021.

This year's four advanced voting days land over the April long weekend and come to an end on Monday, one week before the general election date of April 28.