If past elections are any indication, over 1.5 million Canadians just voted in the 2008 federal election without ever seeing the Conservative party’s plan for the country.

Across Canada, advanced polling stations were open for voters on October 3, 4, and 6. But the Conservative Party did not issue its platform for the 2008 federal election until Tuesday (October 7).

The Bloc Québécois, Greens, Liberals, and New Democrats all released full-length party platforms before the end of September.

Susan Friend, an Elections Canada spokesperson for B.C., told the Straight that the official number of Canadians that voted early will be available on Wednesday or Thursday (October 8 or 9).

But if past elections are any indication, the number will surpass 1.5 million. According to statistics made available by Elections Canada, 1,561,039 Canadians took advantage of early polling station in the 2006 federal election. 183,861 of those votes were cast by British Columbians.

The number of Canadians voting early has increased every election for as far back as Elections Canada makes statistics available.

In the 1997 federal election, 704,336 Canadians voted early; in 2000, that number was 775,157; in 2004, it was 1,248,469; and, in 2006, 1,561,039 ballots were cast before the official election date.

Party platforms for the 2008 federal election: