Voter turnout was so high in Dieppe, N.B., that many people were still marking their ballots nearly an hour after the polls across the rest of the province had closed.

In the end, their vote was a vote for change that ousted incumbent Mayor Achille Maillet.

The lines were so long outside the main polling station at the local arena that many had not been able to vote by the time polls closed at 8 p.m. AT.

Election officials escorted those who were still in line into the building and they were still allowed to vote.

Despite the extended voting, counting began at 8 p.m. and results were being reported soon after.

CBC News' Melissa Friedman said many people continued to show up after the doors had already been locked, wanting to get in.

Officials turned them away because the closing time had already passed, Friedman said.

The lineup at the arena began to form around 3 p.m., Friedman said, and officials on site said that they had never seen anything like it.

The race in the city of about 20,000, which is near Moncton, was labelled as one of the most hotly contested in the province.

Maillet took 1,792 votes while mayor-elect Jean Leblanc received 6,097, according to unofficial results released by Elections N.B.

More than 56 per cent of the 14,047 eligible voters in the municipality cast ballots.

"I'm humbled by the level of support they've given me, but I'm also very pleased because … I'm eager to get to work and do the job we need to do for this beautiful city," Leblanc said.

Maillet criticized for over-budget pool

Maillet was criticized during the campaign for his council's investment in a $14 million aquatic centre. The centre is in the early stages of construction but has already run $1 million over budget.

During the municipal election campaign, Maillet told constituents the city's finances were under control and there was a plan in place for completing the pool facility.

Leblanc, a local businessman, ran a campaign that focused on a more frugal approach on council.

The loss is difficult, Maillet said.

"I'm not one that likes to lose. Nobody likes to lose."

Maillet said he'll now be taking a break from politics and spending some time with his family.