Calgary has shattered its advance voting record ahead of Monday’s municipal election, with Elections Calgary reporting that more than 148,000 ballots were cast during the five-day advance polling period — a 47% increase over the 2021 municipal election.
Returning Officer Kate Thompson said the surge was driven in part by expanded polling locations, including 12 new sites in northeast and southeast Calgary, as well as a concerted effort to reach new Canadian citizens and young first-time voters.
Youth and Newcomer Turnout
"We’re seeing lineups at polling stations in communities that have historically had very low participation," Thompson said. "The diversity of the people coming through these doors reflects the diversity of Calgary itself."
The University of Calgary Students’ Union reported that its campus polling station processed over 4,200 ballots during the advance period, more than double the 2021 figure. Student organizers attributed the increase to a voter registration drive that reached every first-year residence.
Issues Driving Turnout
Political analysts say the high turnout reflects the intensity of this election cycle, with housing affordability, public transit, and the future of the Green Line LRT dominating candidate debates. A recent Leger poll found that 68% of Calgarians consider affordability the top municipal issue.
"When people feel that city hall decisions directly affect their daily lives — their rent, their commute, their neighbourhood — they show up," said Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams.
Elections Calgary said it is prepared for high turnout on election day, with over 2,100 poll workers deployed across 187 voting stations. Polls open at 10 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
