More people took advantage of advance voting days last week than in 2009, according to statistics released by Elections BC Monday.

In Prince George-Valemount, 10 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots between May 8 and 11, compared to eight per cent of voters in the 2009 provincial contest.

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Thirteen per cent of Prince George-Mackenzie constituents voted last week, compared to 9.5 per cent in 2009.

The neighbouring riding of Nechako Lakes also saw a 2.5 percentage point increase in advance voting turnout.

Cariboo North voters stuck more closely to their status quo, with 14 per cent of eligible voters casting early ballots, compared 13.8 per cent in the last election.

Out of the four area ridings, Cariboo North has had the best voter turnout over the years.

When all ballots were counted, 60 per cent of the Quesnel-centric riding had participated, compared to the provincial average of 51 per cent.

If the advance polling numbers are any indication, overall turnout could be up provincially. Twelve per cent of the province's 3.1 million voters did their democratic duty early, compared to 10 per cent in 2009.

The last time an increase in advanced voting took place in 2005, with more than 11 per cent of voters casting early ballots, which was 80 per cent higher than in the previous election. That year, overall voter turnout was 58 per cent.