Elections Canada has issued a correction to the detailed estimates of voter turnout for the advanced polls after Lakeland This Week questioned an apparent 73 per cent drop in turnout for the Lakeland riding in Alberta.
According to spokesperson Leanne Nyirfa, 17,203 people participated in the advanced polls in Lakeland, not 3,343 as initially reported.
“I don’t know what the source of the error was, but I can confirm the correct number is 17, 203” said Nyirfa, noting the updated estimate is “more in line with what you're seeing with the other electoral districts.”
In Fort McMurray-Cold Lake, 16,486 people participated in advance polls compared with 11,911 in 2021.
In Peace River-Westlock, 17,655 people voted in advance compared with 15,799 in 2021.
Advance polls were open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for four days over the Easter weekend. According to the preliminary figures, 7.3 million people voted in advance polls nationwide and 815,131 voted in advance in Alberta.
Regular voting for the federal election will take place on Monday, April 28.
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While the national and provincial estimates of voter turnout at advance polls for the 45th general election show a 25 per cent increase compared to 2021, the preliminary estimate shows a 73 per cent decrease in advance voting in the Lakeland.
According to data on the Elections Canada website Lakeland saw just 3,343 people vote in advanced polls in 2025 – the fifth lowest turnout in the entire country and a 73 per cent drop from the 12,384 advance voters in 2021.
Spokesperson for Elections Canada Leanne Nyirfa wasn’t able to shed any light on the why there was such a drastic drop in turnout for the advance polls in Lakeland.
“The mandate of Elections Canada is to administer the election. So we don't provide comments on people's choices when it comes to how they choose to vote and if they choose to go to the advanced polls versus Election Day or to vote by mail or to vote in elections Canada office beforehand,” said Nyirfa.
Other northern Alberta ridings saw numbers more in line with the turnout elsewhere in the province and across Canada.
In Fort McMurray-Cold Lake, 16,486 people participated in advance polls compared with 11,911 in 2021.
In Peace River-Westlock, 17,655 people voted in advance compared with 15,799 in 2021.
Advance polls were open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for four days over the Easter weekend. According to the preliminary figures, 7.3 million people voted in advance polls nationwide and 815,131 voted in advance in Alberta.
Regular voting for the federal election will take place on Monday, April 28.
