Yukon advance polling turnout lower compared to last federal election

More than seven million Canadians voted at advance polls over Easter weekend, but the Yukon was the only province or territory where the number of advance poll voters decreased from last election.

In the Yukon, an estimated 4,748 voters turned out at advance polls — down 570 votes from 2021.

In other parts of the country, it was a different story, with advance poll turnout up 25 per cent overall. In the N.W.T., an additional 132 votes were cast at this year's advance polls, and in Nunavut, turnout increased by 173 votes.

Despite Yukon's low advance poll turnout, the number of special ballots cast in that territory more than doubled compared to last election. More than 5,000 Yukoners voted by special ballot in this year's federal election. 

"On a per capita basis, we probably had about 30 per cent [more] Yukoners voting by special ballot than in Orleans [Ontario], which is the highest raw number of ballots in the country," said Michael Lauer, the Yukon's federal election returning officer.  

Every federal election, special ballot voting is open to any elector as an alternative to voting on election day or at advance polls. April 22 was the last day to vote by special ballot across the country.