Long lines are seen outside some Toronto polling stations on Election Day – Toronto | The Canadian News

Long lines could be seen outside several Toronto polling stations on Monday after the number of locations offered was drastically reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elections Canada had previously told Global News that it had secured just over 14,000 voting sites for the day, up from more than 15,000 available in 2019.

In total, 11 GTA districts have a decrease of more than 50 percent in the number of stations, so voters may have to travel a greater distance to vote.

The most affected driving is in the Toronto Center, where there are only 15 stations available, less than the 91 that were open in 2019.

Only 15 stations are available in Spadina-Fort York, compared to 56 in 2019. A lineup with an estimated wait time of over an hour could be seen at the polling place at the Fort York Visitor Center at last Monday morning time.

Other stations with long lines included Distillery District, where a Global News reporter captured the winding lineup in a span of time.

Stations at the Palais Royale Toronto, the Precious Blood Church Roman Catholic Church on Lawrence Avenue and along Lakeshore also saw long winding lines. However, it seemed that certain distancing and masking was taking place.

Elections Canada said that while some areas have fewer voting locations, there will be more voting centers within those locations, adding that that should help decrease wait times and better serve voters.

More to come.