Numbers for advance voting in the Cloverdale-Langley City byelection have been low compared to a previous election.

A recent press release from Elections Canada, sent out Dec. 11, noted a few thousand voters made it out to the polls over four advance voting days, Dec. 6, 7, 8, and 9.

In the release, chief electoral officer Stephane Perrault offered an estimated number of voters who cast early ballots on one of the four advance polling days.

鈥淎ccording to the preliminary figures, 5,368 electors voted at the advance polls in this byelection,鈥� noted the release. 鈥淭his is an estimate. Some polls may not have reported yet.鈥�

Contrast that with advance voting numbers in the 43rd general election (the last election that advance poll numbers are available for) and byelection turnout is on pace to be about 75 per cent lower than in a general election.

Preliminary figures in the 43rd general election revealed that 20,845 people cast advance ballots. In that election, 55,488 people voted in the riding.

Elections Canada also noted in a different press release on the same day that voters who鈥檝e applied for a special ballot have until Dec. 16 to drop it off.

鈥淓lectors who have applied for a special ballot are responsible for returning their completed ballot to Elections Canada by election day,鈥� the release noted. 鈥淓lectors voting by special ballot from inside their riding and who have not yet sent back their completed special ballot using the courier service arranged by Elections Canada should return it in person at the local Elections Canada office."

The local office, in Langley, will accept ballots until 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 16.

Elections Canada cautioned that voters who鈥檝e applied for special ballot are now locked in to voting that way.

鈥淥nce an elector has applied to vote by special ballot, they cannot change their mind and vote at their assigned polling station on election day,鈥� the release noted. 鈥淓lectors who applied for a special ballot voting kit but have not yet received it should contact Elections Canada or visit the local Elections Canada office in Cloverdale鈥揕angley City without delay.鈥�

The electoral district of Cloverdale-Langley City is about 60 per cent Cloverdale, about 25 per cent Langley, and about 15 per cent Newton. The riding is about 60 square kilometres in size with a population of more than 130,000. As of Nov. 10, 2024, there were 88,348 people on the electors list. 

The Elections Canada office is located at 6279 202nd Street in Langley.

On byelection day, Dec. 16, polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.