Elections Manitoba says it expects a 30 per cent increase in advanced voters this election.
About 80,000 people had cast early ballots as of Thursday night. That's 2,000 more than the total number of advanced voters in the 2011 provincial election.
While Elections Manitoba says a high advanced voter turnout doesn't automatically mean a higher overall turnout, it says an increase in early voters this year was expected.
It takes about 1,000 employees to run the province’s 300 early voting stations. In total, an election is run with the help of about 10,000 people.
Elections Manitoba said it scheduled extra staff at the advanced polling stations this year.
It attributes the increase in early voters to an increased awareness.
Manitobans have two more days to cast an advanced vote.
The provincial election takes place on April 19.
