The ridings of Kitchener Centre and Kitchener-Waterloo are expected to be tight races come election night, and that has candidates and campaign workers in high gear this week.

While each riding has a variety of candidates from the mainstream to the very unusual, it's expected to come down to a battle between the Conservatives and Liberals in both.

In 2008 Conservative Peter Braid beat long-time Liberal Andrew Telegdi in Kitchener-Waterloo by just 17 votes, the closest race in the country.

Meanwhile in Kitchener Centre, long-time Liberal Karen Redman lost to Conservative Stephen Woodworth by just 339 votes.

According to Barry Kay, of Wilfrid Laurier University's Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy, the races couldn't be closer.

He says it's just too close to call, "Based on the numbers right now Kitchener-Waterloo and Kitchener Centre seats, I think, are close as a drum."

Voter turnout could be a big factor in this election. In 2008 turnout in both ridings was about 60 per cent, slightly above the national average.

But in the last election, it is estimated 10,000 traditionally Liberal voters in the Kitchener-Waterloo riding stayed home, while 5,000 in Kitchener Centre decided not to vote.

Kitchener Centre Liberal candidate Karen Redman says the party is trying to get them back, "Keep working hard, telephoning people, knocking on doors, covering the riding. I'm really proud to say that we've had enough volunteers that we've canvassed the whole riding."

Kitchener-Waterloo Incumbent Conservative Peter Braid says he will continue to knock on as many doors as possible to try to sway residents.

"You do have a certain segment of the population who don't make up their mind until the final week or perhaps election day," Braid says. "So it's important to reach out to those remaining undecided voters."

Kay says strategic voting in either riding could also make a difference.

"It's a contest between the Conservatives and the Liberals. People voting strategically should keep that in mind, and if they're concerned about that overall question of a Harper majority."

The focus on election day for both parties will simply be getting people out to vote.