Long lines at polling stations as Canadians turn up for advance voting

Canadians are reporting long lines as polling stations open for advance voting Friday.

Advance polls are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. nationwide Friday through Monday, with election day set for April 28. 

Some voters at polling stations across the country told CBC News early Friday they were waiting upwards of two hours to cast their ballots. 

"I vote all the time and I've never had to wait for very long, normally. This is going to be an hour apparently," said James Knight, who was voting at Ottawa City Hall.

Knight said he believed the long wait was due to people's enthusiasm to cast their ballots, rather than any disorganization on the part of Elections Canada.

"They're tuned into the election. It's a big deal for Canada, what's going on. So I think they may have decided to turn out early."

The holiday weekend means many Canadians who would normally be working on Fridays and Mondays have time off to get to their polling stations. 

Their reasons for getting out early vary.

"The economy, that's probably the biggest issue for me," said Peter Xing, waiting in a line at a Vancouver polling station. "And just the whole world politics, I think we just need a strong leader."

Some voters told CBC News they were in line for over two hours at a polling station in Vancouver's West End.

In St. John's, Carl Aylward said he was motivated by U.S. President Donald Trump's rhetoric about Canada becoming the "51st state."

"This is why I want to get out," he said. "We're not for sale."

Across Toronto, voters were also reporting lines up to two hours long, with some saying they've never seen such long lines to vote.

While some were heartened, taking to social media to call the turnout "incredible" and "momentous," others complained about slow ballot processing.