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POLL: Do you think the day of the federal election should be a statutory holiday?

Increasing voter turnout has long been a goal of officials across the country in all levels of government. The 2015 Canadian election saw the highest turnout in a quarter century, when 68.5 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot.
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Increasing voter turnout has long been a goal of officials across the country in all levels of government. The 2015 Canadian election saw the highest turnout in a quarter century, when 68.5 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot.

READ MORE: Do you think Election Day should be a federal holiday?

And this election is off to a good start as Elections Canada said two million people voted on Friday and Saturday, the first two days of advance polls. The agency said this was a 25 per cent jump compared to the first two days of advance voting in the 2015 election.

ALSO READ: Advance voter turnout up 25% for first two days: Elections Canada

One idea for increasing turnout is to give voters the day off work. More than half of Canadians want Election Day to be a federal holiday, according to a recent Research Co. poll. An online poll of 1,000 adults in Canada last month found 58 per cent agree with making voting day a holiday, while 32 per cent are against the idea and 11 per cent are undecided.

Do you think Election Day should be a statutory holiday? Cast your ballot in our online poll.