Long lines slow Winnipeg voters on 1st day of advance polls

Advance polling stations opened Friday, but many Winnipeggers are complaining about long lines and an inadequate amount of workers on hand to deal with the volume of eager voters.

Numerous voters reported waiting between 25 minutes to an hour to cast a ballot at community centres and churches. Some voters were patient enough to grin and bear the wait; others turned around and went home out of frustration.

Eric Crone and his wife tried to vote at the advance poll at the Corydon Village Mall on Corydon Avenue. Facing a wait of about an hour, he said they'll come back another time."

"It's just slow ... it's very slow," Crone said.

Even though the wait was long and Crone will have to come back to vote, he was still enthusiastic.

"Love it! That's the way it's supposed to be. People have to get out and vote. That's all there is to it."

Crone may have taken the delays with grace, but some people weren't so impressed. 

• Advance polls open amid concerns about voting cards

• Voter info card errors cause confusion over how to vote in election

• Pledge to vote

CBC News received several calls with complaints of long lines. Some Elections Canada staff told voters there were not enough workers at the polls and in some locations people were waiting with no place to sit.

At Norwood Community Centre, CBC's Bridget Forbes reported people waiting for at least 25 minutes. Two staff members were on hand trying to deal with the line of voters, which snaked out the door of the building.

Marilyn Krebs said she stood in line at Westwood Presbyterian Church longer than expected.

"There is one person set up, and we have been in line half an hour and we have at least another half hour to go," Krebs said.

By some accounts, the lineups at Crescentwood Community Centre and in River Heights were an hour long. The same was true at McIvor Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church on McIvor Avenue, and Southside Bible Church on St. Anne's Road.

In St. Norbert, people waited between 45 minutes to an hour. Again, some voters left out of frustration.

'Short-staffed'

First-time voter Devon Easton, 20, said it took an hour before she could cast her ballot.

"I heard that they were short-staffed, but they are setting up another table right now."

Easton said she was discouraged by the long line at first, but she "toughed it out" and was glad to be able to vote in the end.

A spokesperson for Elections Canada said there were "no staff shortages" at any of the the polls and all staff required were on hand.

Marie France Kenny explained there were long lines at some polls because it was a long weekend and the locations had only been open for a few hours on the first day of advance voting.

Kenny apologized for the wait and asked voters to be patient.

Estimated wait times at advance polls Friday:

• Harrow United: one hour
• McIvor Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church: one hour
• Southside Bible Church: one hour
• Crescentwood Community Centre: one hour
• River Heights: one hour
• Westwood Presbyterian Church: one hour
• Corydon Village Mall: one hour
• Norwood Community Centre: 25 minutes