Voter turnout up about 30 per cent in advance polls around Waterloo, Guelph

Ridings in Waterloo region and Guelphsaw an increase of several thousand voters who went to the polls in advance, according to estimated numbers from Elections Canada.

On average, ridings in Waterloo region and Guelpharea saw an increase of about 3,000 to 4,000 voters.

"That fits in with the national average, where we saw this year an uptick of 29 per cent of voters in advance polls from 2015," RejeanGrenier with Elections Canada told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.

Several changes that took place during the2015 federal election like increasing advance poll hours, days and locations greatly contributed to this federal election's uptake.

Elections Canada also set up polling stations atcollege and university campuses to make it easier for students and staff to vote.

"We were in some 119 campus location this year and 111,000 people used it, so that obviously made it easier for students," Grenier said.

Elections Canada alsoallowed homeless individuals to use a shelter's address as their own, to be able to vote.

Compare the numbers

Here's a breakdown of theestimatednumber ofpeople who voted in advance polls from Elections Canada.

• Kitchener Centre: 12,343 in 2019 compared to 9,049 in 2015.
• Kitchener-Conestoga: 12,415 in 2019 compared to 8,759 in 2015.
• Kitchener South-Hespeler: 11,811 in 2019 compared to 8,442 in 2015.
• Waterloo: 12,726 in 2019 compared to 9,956 in 2015.
• Cambridge:13,367 in 2019 compared to 9,987 in 2015.
• Guelph: 16,973 in 2019 compared to 13,577 in 2015.
• Perth-Wellington: 14,671 in 2019 compared to 10,450 in 2015.
• Wellington-Halton Hills: 18,369 in 2019 compared to 13,984 in 2015.

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