14% of eligible voters cast ballots in Elmwood-Transcona advance polling

Just over 10,000 people about 14 per cent of those eligiblecast ballots in advance voting in thefederal byelection in Winnipeg's ElmwoodTranscona riding.

Advance voting for the byelection began last Friday, and continued through until Monday.

Elections Canada said Tuesday that according to preliminary numbers,10,032 voters castballots in the east Winnipeg riding. There are 71,847 eligible voters in the riding, according to the federal agency.

That percentage ismarginally higher when compared to advance polling inthe last federal byelection, held in June in the Toronto-St. Paul's riding, where 13 per cent of voters casttheir ballots in advance.

The Elmwood-Transconabyelection was triggered after former New Democratic Party MP Daniel Blaikie resigned from his seat in February to take a job working for Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew.

Blaikiehad held the Winnipeg riding since 2015, narrowly winning the seat over incumbent Conservative Lawrence Toet by fewer than 100 votes. Prior to Toet's one term from 2011 to 2015, the riding has been a NDP stronghold since it was created.

The party is hoping its candidate, Leila Dance, willhold the seat, while theConservatives are hoping their candidate,Colin Reynolds, can build on the momentum from the party's surprise June byelection victory in Toronto-St. Paul's, formerly a Liberal stronghold.

In addition to Dance and Reynolds, the other candidates areSarah Couture (People's Party of Canada), Nicolas Geddert (Green Party),Ian MacIntyre (Liberals) andZbig Strycharz(Canadian Future Party).

Byelection day for Elmwood-Transcona is Sept. 16.

A federal byelection is taking place next the same day inQuebec's LaSallemardVerdun riding as well.