With advance voting in the federal election open, plenty of ballots are expected to be cast this Thanksgiving weekend.

How many? Well, extrapolating data from the past three Canadian federal elections, it could be as many as 4.6 million ballots — or approximately 25 per cent of the votes to be cast in this campaign.

Increasingly, getting a vote in early is a growing trend. In 2008, advance voting represented 10.9 per cent of all ballots. In 2011, it was 14.2 per cent. In 2015, it jumped to 20.7 per cent.

Those increases in actual ballots? Starting in 2008, the number of advance ballots cast went from 1.5 million, to 2.1 million in 2011, and to 3.7 million in 2015.

If you do plan to cast and advance vote this weekend, the polling stations are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through until Monday evening (Oct. 14).

There are fewer advance polls than those on election day, so where you vote in advance could be — and is likely to be — different than on election day.

Your advance poll can be found on your Voter Information Card, which was mailed out by Elections Canada, or online by entering your postal code on the "Voter Information Service" area of their website.

And, if your mind isn't made up and you plan to vote, get informed first.

Here are some of the stories from The Hamilton Spectator on the campaign:

Flamborough-Glanbrook This riding's massive geographical footprint captures issues ranging from agriculture to development.

Hamilton Centre Veteran NDP MP David Christopherson's decision to bow out of politics leaves a wide-open race in this riding.

Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas The looming federal election is Round 2 for the relatively new riding, created prior to the 2015 race.

Hamilton East-Stoney Creek This is the most fiery riding in the Hamilton area with unionists taking on the incumbent MP on behalf of the New Democrats.

Hamilton Mountain This riding has had a history of close races — the last three decades have seen it swing between the Liberals and the NDP.

Public transit: What election promise will drive you to vote?

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Climate change: Will it change your federal election vote?

Labour: Liberals and NDP battle for Hamilton's blue collar vote.

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