Advance voting draws hour-long lineups in Vancouver

When it comes to advance polling, the third time was the charm for Linda Lauritzen.

"I came on Friday, Saturday and I came today," said the 74-year-old who needs to use a cane to walk around. 

Lauritzen had left the polling station on the first two days because of long lineups. She finally got to cast her ballot on Monday after waiting in line for an hour-and-a-half at the Roundhouse Community Centre. 

"Someone did not organize it properly," she said, "The guys inside were fine, but not the people at the top." 

"When I was young I wouldn't have waited this long to vote. They need to make it easier for the people who are voting," said Lauritzen. 

The sentiment was the same for others in the lineup. Many expected the line to be shorter on a rainy Thanksgiving Monday with a Toronto Blue Jays game playing.

The first three days of advance voting saw a 16 per cent increase in voter turn out compared to the 2011 federal election.

"While Elections Canada had prepared for a higher than usual turnout on the first day of the advance polls, the level of activity exceeded expectations," said Dorothy Sitek with Elections Canada. 

There were 3,423 advance polling sites set up nationwide in 2015 compared to 3,258 in 2011 — 2.4 million Canadian voters showing up in the first three days of advance polling.

In B.C. 58 additional advance polling stations were set up, but some voters believe the polling stations are understaffed. 

"You have to assume it is understaffed or you have to have more stations for areas like Yaletown that has grown and continues to grow," said David Taylor, voting from the advance polling station at the Roundhouse Community Centre. 

Just the way it is

But Elections Canada says they are bound by a legal process that limits what each election worker can do. 

"At advance polls, the poll clerk has to write the name and address of each elector and have the elector sign the document. Only then can the poll clerk strike the elector's name from the list. Only the deputy returning officer can check an elector's ID and hand them a ballot," said Sitek. 

On Sunday, a B.C. Election worker quit while on the job because of the long lineups. 

But some on social media took advantage of the wait times to poke fun and also consider the bright side. By using the hashtag #PollWatch, voters from all over the country have been sharing their stories.