Advance polls are open today for the provincial election. Polls will be open in select locations around the province from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for those unable to cast their ballots in the general election next Saturday.

Meanwhile, the number of special ballots processed thus far is more than double the number used in the last provincial election.

Chief Electoral Officer Bruce Chaulk says to date, more than 22,000 special ballots have been processed.

That is a significant increase over the fewer than 10,000 special ballots processed in the last general election.

Chaulk expects that number to grow quite a bit as elections offices process the information coming in from the districts.

Many are availing of the special ballots due to the winter election coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chaulk believes the number of special ballots could triple those of the 2019 general election.