Trudeau rolled the dice on a snap election. Canadian voters will decide whether his gamble pays off.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gambled last month on a snap federal election — more than two years before a vote was required under Canadian law — he believed the dice were loaded in his favor.

The Liberal Party leader was flying high on relatively positive reviews of his government’s handling of the pandemic. After initial blips, Canada was a world leader in vaccinations. And he was well ahead in the polls of his main rival, a rookie leader who was doubted by members of his own party, and virtually unknown to many Canadians.