On the 56th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

"Canadians don't want a Christmas election." -- Paul Martin

(Reuters) - Turnout for advance polls for Canada's election on Monday was about 25 percent higher than during the last campaign, according to Elections Canada, the agency charged with administering elections.

Officials said a preliminary tally showed more than 1.56 million people voted over the three days in which polling stations were opened in advance of the January 23 federal election, up from just under 1.25 million in the 2004 election.

Turnout was higher in all of Canada's provinces and territories, Elections Canada said