Advanced voting numbers hold steady for 2017 election

In six days of advanced voting, 8,495 Edmontonians have cast their ballots for the 2017 municipal election.

On Monday, 1,254 people took advantage of being able to vote on the statutory holiday for the first time.

"Edmonton Elections decided to try out holiday Monday voting this year as a new convenience for voters, and the feedback has been positive," Iain MacLean, director of elections, said in a news release.

Taking the extra day into account, numbers are slightly down overall from 2013, when 8,438 people voted at advanced polls over five days.

It's a far different story in Calgary.

According to a tweet from the City of Calgary, 44,268 people had turned up by the end of day Sunday already more than the total number of advanced voters from 2013's election, with two days remaining.

Calgary's boost could be attributed to the city's new drive-up voting option, or the tight mayoral race between incumbent Naheed Nenshi and newcomer Bill Smith.

MacLeansaid Edmonton mayconsider the possibility of a drive-up ballot for the next municipal election.

"I think it's something that provides an opportunity for when people are on the go, whether they're going to or from work," he said. "That's something they may utilize and something we're going to work with our colleagues in Calgary, and see the positives and the negatives of it and how we can look at implementing it. Looking at all of our process moving forward."

Advanced polling stations in Edmonton are open until 7 p.m. on Friday. For information on where and how to vote, visit the City's of Edmonton's Where to Vote tool.