It’s election day in B.C. as voters head to the polls to elect a new provincial government. Follow this story all day and evening for the latest news, results and reaction
We’ll have live coverage of the day’s events, results as they come in and reporters covering results from various ridings across Metro Vancouver. So, save this post and hit refresh throughout the day and evening.
LIVE ELECTION RESULTS
After the polls close, you can find out how your riding voted and explore close races across B.C. using this map:
Scroll down to continue reading our live blog or click to read more of our B.C. election coverage of these municipalities:
ELECTION DAY NEWS
Voters flock to polls at 8 a.m.
Everyone stay calm, it’s happening: The polls are opening for the final day of the provincial election.
Voting stations across B.C. are open at 8 a.m. today and close at 8 p.m.
Following the end of advance voting on Wednesday, Elections B.C. said more than a million British Columbians had cast their ballots. The figure breaks a record that was set during the 2020 election at the height of the pandemic.
The elections body says 1,001,331 people have voted, representing more than 28 per cent of all registered electors and putting the province on track for a big overall turnout.
What if wild weather causes outages?
Elections B.C. says it is working closely with B.C. Hydro to make sure voting goes smoothly today, even if there are power outages because of the rain and wind storm hitting the B.C. South Coast.
Spokeswoman Melanie Hull said B.C. Hydro is aware of all voting locations and will make them a priority if there are any outages.
“Voting places are equipped with manual backup supplies in the event of a prolonged outage,” said Hull. “For example, election officials will used paper-based backup procedures if laptops are unavailable.”
The heaviest rain and wind are expected to arrive overnight Friday and into Saturday afternoon.
How quickly can you expect results?
Compared with previous provincial elections, voters won’t have to wait long after polls close on Oct. 19 to get at least a preliminary idea of which party will form the next government in Victoria.
Results will begin being reported minutes after polls close, Wesley MacInnis of Elections B.C. said, thanks to electronic tabulators being used for the first time in a B.C. provincial election.
And networked laptops will be used to look up voters and cross them off the voters list, replacing phone book-thick paper lists and, it’s hoped, reducing the time voters spend lined up.
Paper ballots will also be counted by electronic tabulators on election night. Elections B.C. keeps all the ballots, however, for audits and recounts.
As well, random tabulators are selected for quality assurance tests, making sure a hand count matches the electric count, and all recounts of closely contested races will be by hand.
Who’s running in my riding?
Trying to figure out who to vote today?
Maybe your favoured candidate changed parties following the sudden demise of B.C. United. Maybe they’re now running as an independent — or not running at all. Or maybe your riding changed and you don’t know who your candidates are.
We can help.