THUNDER BAY -- Early voting lines stretched through the 55-Plus Centre for the second straight day on Saturday.
Elections Canada employees were telling voters the line the wait would be 45 minutes, suggesting returning in the late afternoon might result in a shorter wait.
If the 45-minute estimate was correct, those voters would have been waiting an hour to cast a ballot in the federal election.
Charles Roberts was among those who arrived at the 55-Plus Centre at noon on Friday to cast his vote as early as possible. He said the process was disorganized and time-consuming.
"More people left than voted," he said.
"I was there for an hour-and-three-quarters and most of the time, it was standing, watching. It was the worst mess I've ever seen in my life."
Thunder Bay-Superior North returning officer Bill Everitt said voter turnout in the Grandview area made the 55-Plus voting station a local anomale. While lineups lasted an hour in many stations on Friday, most of those were moving smoothly by Saturday.
Everitt pointed out advance polls are open until 8 p.m. on Monday, adding polling stations across Canada were flooded when doors opened on Friday.
"I was thinking it's something like Boxing Day," Everitt said. "Everybdoy plans to go first thing in the morning and they go and there's a big lineup."
Once the election is over and analyisis is being conducted on how to make Elections Canada more effective, Everitt said, his office will likely suggest more polling stations will be necessary for advance voting in the future.
After Monday when early polls close, voters will be expected to cast a ballot on election day, Oct. 19.
