Advanced polling is in for the 2026 London mayoral election and the numbers are astonishing.
Since the last election in 2022, advanced polling has increased 27%. This could be for a variety of reasons including the real chance of change in office “there is a real contest for the mayoral seat” says former Mayor of London and co-owner of the London News Network LOON, Matt Brown.
The massive increase in advanced polling could also be affected by the locations, as advanced polling was held at both Fanshawe College and the main campus of Western University. Alongside both of these areas being easily accessible, Western college’s student union ran a campaign to inform and encourage students to vote during the advanced polling period.
The use of social media may have also played a larger factor in voter turnout, as many candidates utilized their media platforms to spread the message and inform first time voters on the process, hoping to remove the intimidation factor as Matt Brown explains “Municipal politics is one of the most accessible forms of politics…you see a lot more Instagram posts and videos that reaches a different demographic”.
The increase in information has also impacted areas outside of London, with places such as Kitchener and Windsor seeing massive increases in their advanced polling, which could signal a universal want for change.
The official municipal election will be open Monday October 26, from 10am until 8pm.
