With Canadians facing one of the most unique elections in quite some time that saw a record amount of people vote in advance, there are a number of issues at top of mind for different people, including Trump and affordability.
When surveying various voters at election polls, different St. Albertans identified affordability and dealing with Trump as some common and top issues when it comes to voting, along with just exercising their civic duty.
"It's not a right, it's a duty. That's how I was brought up, to believe that we have a duty to always vote in whatever election comes up," Peggy Vince said. She said that dealing with Trump, healthcare, and Canadian unity are the three most important issues for her.
"This election, I think primarily the issue is finding somebody who can stand up to Trump and not rock the boat so to speak," Louise Klein said.
Kendra Klassen said for her, the biggest issue of this election was fighting back against anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.
"With the way the political state is right now, there's been lots of [negative] rhetoric towards the trans community in particular that is not safe for them," Klassen said. "So, I came here to vote today to make sure that I put my voice and my vote towards what I think is best for our community."
Chris Debrecen told the Gazette that voting in support of working class issues was most important to him coming into this election.
"A Government that is trying to make decisions to help lower income, middle-income people succeed and have a better chance at life," Debrecen said. He felt that the New Democratic Party most embodied the values that were important to him.
Wylie Simmonds said that for him, crime and immigration were the top issues that brought him out to vote in this election.
"There's not enough houses, there's not enough healthcare," Simmonds said. "There just needs to be some control on that."
Simmonds said he felt like Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives were the most equipped to handle that, although he wasn't hopeful of their chances of winning.
Much like Simmonds, first time voter Houston Holzer, 18, also felt that the Conservatives were best to help lead Canada through this moment and that Canada "just needs to see change."
"I just think it's been Liberal for a long time, and not that I hate on liberals. I agree with a lot of stuff they do, but I just want to see a change," Holzer said.
Voter Morgan Arbez told the Gazette that she felt the country was "very, very broken."
"I think the country is running rampant with inflation, I don't know how my kids are ever going to be able to buy a house, let alone the cost of groceries," Arbez said. She added that she wished "we had Trump here."
According to Elections Canada, St. Albert-Sturgeon River saw 77.62 per cent of registered voters cast their ballot as of 2 p.m. on Tuesday with 100 per cent of the polls reporting, well ahead of the national turnout of 67 per cent. That number does not include electors who may have registered on election day.
St. Albert-Sturgeon River saw Conservative Party MP Michael Cooper re-elected for a fourth term.
