Manitobans cast 108K votes in advance polls, says Elections Canada

Advance polls in Manitoba saw nearly double the number of voters this past weekend compared to the 2011 federal election, says Elections Canada.

A total of 108,454 voters in Manitoba took part in advance voting days from last Friday until Thanksgiving Monday, according to preliminary estimates released by the agency on Wednesday.

By contrast, 56,723 electors in the province cast ballots in advance polls in the 2011 election.

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Winnipeg South Centre had the most voters taking advantage of advance polls in the province. A total of 11,205 votes were cast at polling stations there over the weekend, compared to 5,932 in 2011.

The second-highest number was in Saint Boniface-Saint Vital, where 9,610 votes were cast. It's a new riding that includes the former Saint Boniface riding, which had 5,775 electors voting in advance polls in 2011.

Across the country, an estimated 3.6 million people voted during four days of advance polls running Oct. 9-12, representing a 71 per cent increase over three days of advance polling in 2011.

Elections Canada says the overall increase in turnout is due in part to a fourth day being added to the advance polling period for the first time.

Here are Elections Canada's advance voting estimates for all Manitoba ridings:

• BrandonSouris 6,436.
• CharleswoodSt. JamesAssiniboiaHeadingley 9,294.
• ChurchillKeewatinook Aski 7,154.
• DauphinSwan RiverNeepawa 6,432.
• ElmwoodTranscona 8,316.
• KildonanSt. Paul 8,246.
• PortageLisgar 5,293.
• Provencher 7,325.
• Saint BonifaceSaint Vital 9,610.
• SelkirkInterlakeEastman 9,387.
• Winnipeg Centre 4,959.
• Winnipeg North 5,477.
• Winnipeg South 9,320.
• Winnipeg South Centre 11,205.

Elections Canada's website hasthe official voting results from 2011, including the number of votes cast in advance polling stations in each riding.