Saturday April 18, 2025 | LANGFORD, BC [Updated April 19, 2025]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
There were lineups at federal election advance voting stations around the region today as voters demonstrate their interest in marking their ballot at the earliest possible opportunity.
Advance voting is available for four days over this Easter long weekend: Friday April 18 through Monday April 21. Polls are open 9 am to 9 pm on each of those days. If you’re still in line at 9 pm you have the right to still be able to get in to vote.
These are long days for election workers.
At least one advance voting location in Langford reported lineups that had voters waiting in line for an hour and 45 minutes. Voting place staff heard complaints with regard to that.
Voter turnout on this first day of voting was nearly two million ballots cast (according to Elections Canada on April 19).
The full 45th General Election Day is Monday April 28.
Voting at the EDOs:
Voting is also available at the Electoral District Office (EDO) in every riding, where lineups usually not as long. Voting at an EDO is by Special Ballot.
Voting at EDOs is available daily (now April 18 to 21, 9 am to 9 pm) to 6 pm on Tuesday April 22 at any of the 500 EDOs across Canada, including:
- EDO in Cowichan-Malahat-Langford: Suite 110 at 955 Reunion Ave (in the Belmont Market shopping mall at Jacklin Rd and Kelly Rd).
- EDO in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke: 3170 Tillicum Road (in the Tillicum shopping mall at Tillicum Road and Burnside Rd)
- EDO in Victoria: 722 Johnson Street, in downtown Victoria.
- EDO in Saanich-Gulf Islands: 2261 Keating Cross Road in Central Saanich
Voting at EDOs is done by special ballot — just take along your voting card and your driver’s licence or other ID. Experienced staff will walk voters through the process in a straightforward way.
When people vote early:
When people vote early they have obviously made up their mind ahead of election day.
Today’s long lineups come the day after last night’s English federal leaders debate, though it’s not clear to what degree debates influence the final decisions made by voters.
Those who vote in advance make the job easier for candidate get-out-the-vote teams.
Candidates will now be working hard to find those who have yet-to-vote.
How, where and when to vote:
Ahead of the April 28 general election day, Canadians can vote during Advance Voting (April 18 to 21) or by special ballot at any Electoral District Office in the country.
Details about where, how and when to vote is on the Elections Canada website.
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- NEWS SECTIONS: POLITICS | CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTION 2025 | VANCOUVER ISLAND