On Saturday, as part of a day of errands, Farzana Doctor swung by Ourland Community Centre in South Etobicoke toShe and her partner Reyan Naim zipped in and out at the advance poll — one of 50 across the city offering an opportunity to vote well before. “Hey #Toronto, advance polls are open!” Doctor exclaimed in a tweet as she exited.
Doctor and Naim were two of 129,745 people who voted at advance polls over six days from June 8 to 13 — a nearly 12 per cent increase compared to the 115,911 voters who cast their ballots in eight days of advance voting in last October’s municipal election. Tuesday saw the biggest crowds — some 38,621 eligible voters — for the highest single day turnout at an advance poll since Toronto’s amalgamation in 1998, according to the city.
At noon on Saturday, it took Doctor mere minutes. “There was zero lineup.There were way more people at IKEA,” the writer and psychotherapist said with a laugh.