British Columbia

Last day of advance voting before B.C. election

Today is the last day to get out and vote before the B.C. general election on Tuesday. So far, 188,000 ballots have been cast.
Since Wednesday, 188,000 ballots have been cast.

Today is the last day to get out and vote before the B.C. general election on Tuesday.

Advance polls have been open all over the province since Wednesday and so far, 188,000 ballots have been cast.

That’s higher than the last election in 2009, when 148,000 ballots were cast over the first two days of advance voting. Still, the last provincial election logged a record low 51 per cent voter turnout rate.

Don Main, spokesman for Elections BC, says they have worked very hard to connect with everybody, canvassing community centres, new residential areas, and campuses. They also sent notices to every residence in the province.

"So we got out there and updated the voters list and we have about 94 per cent of the eligible voters registered to vote in BC," he said.

Main says Elections BC will continue to work with hundreds of schools across the province to develop and grow voter interest in students.

Advance polls will be open until 8 p.m. Saturday. Voters may cast their ballots at one of the advance voting stations.

Last weekend of campaigning

Political leaders will spend most of Saturday campaigning in the Lower Mainland.

Christy Clark spent the morning in Campbell River and Abbotsford. In the afternoon, she is expected to head to Surrey.

NDP leader Adrian Dix is expected to spend his day meeting candidates in Coquitlam, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey.

Green Party leader Jane Sterk is in Victoria today, and Conservative leader John Cummins is expected to spend Saturday afternoon selling spotted prawns from the commercial fisherman's wharf on Granville Island in Vancouver. He plans to end his day at a community barbecue and dance in Langley.

With files from the CBC’s Terry Donnelly