As polling stations open across Canada, an increase in early voting highlights rising engagement.
Canada's Election Day: Polls Synchronize Across Six Time Zones
Canada's Election Day: Polls Synchronize Across Six Time Zones
Canadians head to the polls as voter turnout surges with early voting statistics.
April 28, 2025, 5:31 p.m. ET – Canada has initiated its Election Day process, where polls in different provinces close at synchronized times despite the country's six distinct time zones. Polling stations first opened in Newfoundland and Labrador at 8:30 a.m. local time, which aligns with 7 a.m. Eastern Time. The populous provinces of Ontario and Quebec will see their polls active from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., while British Columbia, the country's westernmost province, will conclude voting at 10 p.m. Eastern, half an hour after the closures in Ontario and Quebec.
The importance of this election is underscored by a significant rise in voter participation, as approximately 7.3 million Canadians exercised their right to vote during the early voting phase, which ran from April 18 to April 21, marking a noteworthy 25 percent increase in comparison to early voting numbers from the 2021 election.
Ian Austen, a seasoned reporter covering Canadian politics and culture from Ottawa, can be contacted at austen@nytimes.com for further insights on this pivotal election.
The importance of this election is underscored by a significant rise in voter participation, as approximately 7.3 million Canadians exercised their right to vote during the early voting phase, which ran from April 18 to April 21, marking a noteworthy 25 percent increase in comparison to early voting numbers from the 2021 election.
Ian Austen, a seasoned reporter covering Canadian politics and culture from Ottawa, can be contacted at austen@nytimes.com for further insights on this pivotal election.
