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ELECTION 2024: Polls closed for the Oct. 19 provincial election

When and where to vote on the West Coast until polls close at 8 p.m.
B.C. will elect a new government on May 9.
Election day in B.C. is Oct. 19, 2024.

Polls have now closed for the 2024 British Columbia provincial election.

After a record-breaking turnout during advanced voting, BC Votes 2024 is likely going to be one for the history books. This also marks the first provincial election with new riding boundaries, which increased the number of seats in the legislature to 93 from 87.

Roughly 1,001,331 people cast their ballot during the six days of advanced voting that ended Wednesday, compared to 671,231 in the 2020 snap election.

In the Mid Island-Pacific Rim riding, the advance polls were busy from the first day, district electoral officer Ann Chandler said. "Nearly 30 percent of the voters in our riding voted in advance polls," she said.

Chandler did not have a breakdown of which advance polling stations were busiest, saying that information will be released on election night once the polls close at 8 p.m. (Pacific time). She couldn't say whether 30 percent was higher than the previous provincial election.

"It was a COVID election," she explained.

For 2024, "we were warned to expect up to about 30 percent (advanced voters). We were right on," Chandler added.

The total number of vote-by-mail ballots has not been released by Elections BC. In 2020, 478,900 returned vote-by-mail packages by deadline, roughly 66 per cent of packages requested.

This election, B.C. has also moved to electronic voting tabulation, in efforts to streamline voting and results. However, in close races, ballots will be recounted by hand. 

Final counting of votes is set for Oct. 26-28.

Chandler said voters in the Mid Island-Pacific Rim riding should start seeing results fairly soon after the polls close. "After 8 p.m. tabulators at the polls will upload (results) as well as those from the advance polls. We have some remote (locations) that will be phoning numbers in as well."

If you haven't voted yet, here is an at-a-glance roundup on what to do.

Polls open at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning and close at 8 p.m. There are a few different polling stations located in west coast communities, which are in the Mid Island-Pacific Rim riding:

- AHOUSAT: Ahousaht Emergency Response Building 254 Main St.); Hot Springs Cove Band Building (1 Hot Springs Cove Rd.)

- BAMFIELD: Bamfield Fire Hall, 368 Pachena Rd.

- NITINAHT: Ditidaht Community Hall, 658 Malachan Rd.

- TOFINO: Tofino Community Hall, 351 Arnet Rd.

- UCLUELET: Ucluelet Community Hall, 500 Matterson Dr.

The District Electoral Office (4994 Argyle St. in Port Alberni) will also be open for voting on election day, although it closes at 4 p.m. Vote-by-mail packages can still be dropped off at the office until 8 p.m.

Candidates running:

There are three candidates running in the Mid Island-Pacific Rim riding:

- Adam Hayduk (Conservative Party of B.C.)

- Josie Osborne (B.C. NDP)

- Ross Reid (B.C. Green Party)

Voter registration:

While eligible voters don’t have to register ahead of time to take part in the election, Elections BC recommends British Columbians sign up ahead of time in order to avoid lengthy lineups.

Voters can register or update their information online at elections.bc.ca/ovr or by calling 1-800-661-8683. 

Some eligible identification that British Columbians must be able to show include:

A B.C. driver’s licence

A B.C. Identification Card

A B.C. Services Card, with photo

A Certificate of Indian Status

Another card issued by the B.C. government, or Canada, that shows your name, photo and address.

For all accepted identification to vote visit here: https://elections.bc.ca/2024-provincial-election/voter-id/.

Check www.albernivalleynews.com and www.westerlynews.ca for full coverage of results starting after the polls close at 8 p.m. PT.

— With files from Susie Quinn, AV News editor

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Elena Rardon

About the Author: Elena Rardon

I have worked with the Alberni Valley News since 2016.
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