St. Albertans are on track to smash advanced voting records this week and more than 5,000 ballots cast by Thursday.
The previous record was held in 2019 when 8,000 St. Albertans cast an early ballot in the race and the city is on pace to break the record this year.
Across the province, Albertans have crushed 2019’s advanced voting record.
On Tuesday, over 160, 000 Albertans cast their ballots across the province, a 16 per cent increase over 2019’s estimated 140,000 ballots cast.
In St. Albert, lines to vote are moving quickly.
At Servus Credit Union place, the “lineup” was nonexistent at noon on Thursday.
One voter in line, Niko Quisese chose to do advanced voting to avoid waiting to cast a ballot on election day. Ouisese said his excitement to vote was at an eight on a scale of 1-10.
Returning Officer Katherine Zalasky says voters have been satisfied with the advanced voting process so far thanks to the help of excellent staff.
“They think it’s going to be forever,” Zalasky said.
But when they show up, voters quickly realize how slick the process is, Zalasky said, adding that advanced voting gives people the option to skip the traditionally long lineups on election day.
“There is no excuse not to vote,” says Zalasky.
In the St. Albert riding, two-term incumbent NDP candidate Marie Renaud is facing off UCP candidate Angela Wood.
In the Morinville-St. Albert riding the UCP incumbent Dale Nally is squaring off against four-term Sturgeon County councillor and NDP candidate Karen Shaw. Kurt Klingbeil from the Green Party of Alberta and Wayne Rufiange from the Alberta Party are also vying for the seat.
Election day is Monday May 29.
