Record number of Winnipeggers vote in advance polls

More Winnipeggers have voted in advance polls this civic election than ever before.

A City of Winnipeg spokesperson confirmed on Monday thata new record has been set this year,with 30,619 people casting ballots early.

About 47.1 per cent of eligibleWinnipeggers voted in the last election, but this yearit could hit 50 per cent or more, said Marc Lemoine, the city's senior election official.

"It's always so hard to know,right? But certainly a record turnout in advance does bode well I believe for election day," he told CBC News.

"In 2010, we had a record turnout for that time 47.1 per cent turnout overall.That's very good for municipal politics."

Lemoinenoted that it rained all day on election day in 2010. This time around, there is no rain in the forecast.

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Winnipeggers had until Friday to cast their ballots early. Those who missed out on advance voting will have to vote on election day, which is Wednesday.

A total of 29,216 people voted in advance polls in the last civic election in 2010.

The advance votingnumbers have been climbing steadily since 2002:

• 2014: 30,619.
• 2010: 29,216.
• 2006: 15,447.
• 2004: 15,240 (mayoralty byelection).
• 2002: 13,217.

(Source: City of Winnipeg)