OTTAWA, Canada — Élections Canada don suspend the counting of special ballots until later Tuesday morning, as di race for some ridings too tight to declare winner. Dis decision mean Canadians no go sabi until later Tuesday whether Mark Carney’s Liberals go form minority or majority government.
Di special ballots na those wey voters send by post or drop for Elections Canada offices after dem vote outside their ridings. Counting go resume at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
One of di most contested ridings na dat of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. Early Tuesday, Poilievre dey behind im Liberal rival in Carleton riding for Ottawa.
Voting offices don open since 9:30 a.m. in Quebec, and go dey open until 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time, except for Îles de la Madeleine. As dem open, long queues don form for many polling spots, especially for Laurier-Sainte-Marie riding in di heart of Montreal.
This na di stronghold of Liberal Minister Steven Guilbeault, who dey seek another mandate at di Parliament Hill.
Many citizens take advantage of di nice weather to waka go vote for Plateau Centre on Saint-Joseph Est street. “Dis election dey important” na wetin many voters talk as dem dey cross different locations.
Motorists dey struggle in di parking lot of Paragon reception hall on Curé-Labelle Boulevard in di busy Vimy riding for Laval. Some vehicles even carry di blue, white, and red flags of di Canadiens de Montréal.
Despite di heavy turnout, voters only wait about ten minutes to enter di voting booth, according to voter Mario Caruso. E insist say e wan make im choice on di election day, not earlier. “With Donald Trump for America and di current economic situation, it dey important to vote. But at di same time, e dey embarrass to make a choice,” e talk.
Many voters also dey come with their dogs, as pple no fit forget to bring dem furry companions to di voting spots like di United Church of Montreal-West on Ballantyne Avenue. Dis riding dey represented by Liberal Anna Gainey since di partial election of 2023.
A young university student from New Brunswick, wey come visit Montreal for di week, dey wait for him parents outside di voting office with their young Terrier. E believe say participation go high among di 18 to 21 age group. “There dey wake-up because of di national debt and finances. We see long queues during di advance voting at my university for Moncton,” e talk.
Near di historic site of di fur trade at Lachine, some running enthusiasts stop during lunch for di same reason — to cast their votes. One member of di election staff for Saints-Anges-Albert-Simard parish hall on Saint-Louis street report say di line don stretch several meters at di opening. Pple dey come vote with good spirit, and di day go be big one until di polling stations close, e predict.
To register and vote, you must be Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old on di election day, and provide proof of your identity and address.
