More federal election voters showed up to the polls early in Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's rural Ottawa riding than any other riding in Canada.

Data released by Elections Canada shows nearly 44,000 votes were cast April 18 to 21 in Poilievre's long-held Carleton riding.

That's more than 40 per cent of the riding's voters on Elections Canada's list.

About 71,000 people total voted in Carleton in 2021, with some 31,000 doing so in advance.

It comes as the Conservatives push back against reports Poilievre is in danger of losing his seat. Carleton has also been the target of a longest ballot protest for electoral reform, with 90 other candidates registered to run in the riding.

Federal election campaign signs for Conservative candidate Pierre Poilievre and Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy across the road from each other in Carleton earlier this month. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)

Nepean, with a five-candidate field that includes Liberal Leader Mark Carney, ranked fifth in advance voting with about 32,700 ballots cast. Like Carleton, it's a notable increase from 2021.

Ottawa Centre also made the top 10 with about 32,600 early votes. Lanark-Frontenac was 17th and Kanata 29th.

An estimated 7.3 million Canadians — a record — cast their ballots over the long weekend, according to Elections Canada. That's a 25 per cent increase from 2021.

The top 10

1. Carleton: 43,394 votes.
2. Saanich-Gulf Islands: 37,468.
3. Essex: 34,668.
4. Calgary Crowfoot: 33,743.
5. Nepean: 32,689.
6. Ottawa Centre: 32,604.
7. Courtenay-Alberni: 32,536.
8. Burlington: 31,868.
9. Northumberland-Clarke: 31,357.
10. South Surrey-White Rock: 31, 269.