Long lineups form outside some polling stations across Toronto

Long lineups are forming outside some polling stations across the Greater Toronto Area after the number of voting venues in several GTA ridings were slashed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eleven GTA ridings, including the downtown ridings of Toronto Centre, Spadina-Fort York, and University-Rosedale, saw a more than 50 per cent reduction in the number of polling stations this year compared to 2019 and another four GTA ridings have more than 40 per cent fewer polling sites.

In Toronto Centre, which saw the biggest cut, there are just 15 polling stations for election day this year, compared to 91 during the last election.

Voters in various ridings could be seen lining up to cast their ballot before polling stations opened at 9:30 a.m.

"I can't believe this. I waited over an hour, just about an hour I would say, to get in (a) line that goes all the way around the corner to vote here. I walked here because I knew that it would be a zoo," a Vaughan resident said after casting his ballot.