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Liberals poised to secure majority. How did we get here?

Prime Minister Mark Carney's minority government could become a majority if the party's candidates win at least one of three byelections tonight.

The polls closed at 8:30 p.m. ET in all three ridings.

Victories in either University-Rosedale or Scarborough Southwest, two Toronto ridings the Liberals won comfortably less than a year ago, would bring the Liberals to the 172 they need to form a majority. At that point, the government could have some assurance of its ability to at least survive any confidence votes in the House.

A win in both Ontario ridings would bring the Liberals to 173 seats. At that point, the Liberals could gain a majority on House committees and have a freer hand to advance legislation without having to negotiate compromises with the opposition.

Getting to a majority would also be, by any measure, a historic achievement for Carney and the Liberals, particularly given the prime minister was a private citizen 16 months ago and the Liberals were polling 20 points behind the Conservatives.

Nearly a year after the general election, the Liberals appear to have secured a (narrow) majority government.

We're almost an hour past polls closing, but results are still just trickling in. We have fewer than a dozen polls reporting in each riding.

'It's going to be a long night' in tight Terrebonne byelection, Joly says

Liberal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly is in Terrebonne and just spoke with our colleague Raffy Boudjikanian.

She said she helped Auguste canvas voters in the riding a few times and struck an optimistic tone about how the vote will go tonight.

"It's going to be a long night but I think we did some really good work," Joly said, adding that the Liberals were pushing a message to voters that they can deliver stability.

"Things are — I think —  going well, but I don't want to take anything for granted."

Supporters for Begum are now showing up at the banquet hall in Scarborough Southwest. 

Pop music is echoing from the speakers and chatter is bouncing off the walls as a stream of supporters arrive. Some of them are holding Canadian flags.

Campaign workers are doing some final touches before the waiting game begins. 

On the stage, a picture of Begum's late husband, Rizuan Rahman, is on the podium. Begum has previously credited her husband for getting her into politics.  

There's also a smaller but noticeable presence in uniformed black vests: security.

It's 8:30 p.m. ET, meaning polls have closed in the three federal byelection ridings. We now wait for the results to trickle in. Giddy-up.

People are starting to fill the space at the Bloc Québécois HQ. Chattering fills the room as people grab drinks from a mini bar and take photos in front of the Bloc banner. I'm also seeing some political figures in the room. 

Former Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe is mingling with voters and giving interviews to the media, and Parti Québécois provincial MNA for Terrebonne, Catherine Gentilcore, has also arrived. 

We've still got some ways to go before polls close, so the space is quite empty. Those involved with Begum's campaign are roving around with extension cords, setting up TVs and decorating the front stage.

On my commute over, I saw many lawn signs for the candidates. Some blocks were fully decked out in red, orange, blue and green.

Elections Canada is already cautioning that results in Terrebonne might be delayed due to the long ballot protest.

"The higher than usual number of candidates may slow down the ballot counting process," the election body said in a social media post earlier this evening.

"Results will be available tonight or early tomorrow. Thank you for your patience."

The write-in ballots are meant to avoid lengthy delays. Let's see how it goes tonight.

The doors have not yet opened to the public, but everyone here is getting ready to welcome a crowd. Quebec flags are scattered on tables and blue lights are illuminating the scene. 

Well-known Québécois songs from bands like Les Cowboys Fringants are blasting over the speakers.

I'm reporting from the Liberal gathering in Terrebonne tonight.

Tatiana Auguste, the Liberal candidate in Terrebonne, has not arrived here at their venue, Restaurant Le Shaker, (yet) but party volunteers have started filling the venue with pictures of her and Carney.

Some 300 volunteers fanned out across this battleground riding today, according to a party spokesperson, while 750 of them have been knocking on doors since the start of the byelection campaign.

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