B.C. Election 2024: Record Turnout, New Voting Systems & Rain Didn't Stop Voters

It’s officially Election Day in B.C.’s 2024 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. 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.

B.C. Votes 2024: What You Need to Know

Haven’t voted? There’s still time. Here’s what you need to know:

Polling Locations

Voting places will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. This year, Victoria-Swan Lake voters can cast their ballot at any voting location:

Cedar Hill Rec Centre - 3220 Cedar Hill Rd.
Cloverdale Traditional Elem School - 3427 Quadra St.
Craigflower Elem School - 2766 Admirals Rd.
Oaklands Elem School - 2827 Belmont Ave.
Quadra Elem School - 3031 Quadra St.
Reynolds Sec School - 3963 Borden St.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 292 - 411 Gorge Rd E
Tillicum Elem School - 3155 Albina St

Candidates Running in the Riding

Robert Crooks - Communist Party of BC
Nina Krieger - BC NDP
Tim Taylor - Conservative Party
Christina Winter - BC 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. To be eligible, British Columbians must be able to show identification, some eligible identification includes:

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/

Voter Turnout & Election Day Scenes

Despite a heavy downpour, voters turned out in droves across British Columbia. Half an hour before doors to polling stations opened today at 8 a.m., election volunteer Janet Hoag was ready to welcome voters at Fulford Community Elementary in Salt Spring Islands. "We're really excited about today," Hoag said. "At this polling station, we're expecting maybe a few thousands to show up."

At Deep Cove Elementary, election volunteers say 37 percent of residents have already voted in advance, which is why there's no more line-ups, and people are just trickling in. The same is true at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in North Saanich and Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney.

New Voting Technology Streamlines Voting and Results

Voters were in and out without a cinch because of the new voting processes and technology that are being used to administer today's provincial election. According to Elections B.C. networked laptops will be used to look up voters and cross them off the voters list, instead of paper lists. Electronic tabulators will be used to count paper ballots to facilitate faster report results after polls close tonight at 8 p.m.

The Impact of Rain on Voting

Elsewhere on the Peninsula, voters braved the rain to cast their vote. "Isn't this great, after a dry summer, we get a lot of rain," says North Saanich resident, Dan LeBlanc. "What I hope it doesn't do is keep people from voting, which is really important." LeBlanc's sentiment reflects the dedication of British Columbians to participate in the democratic process, even in the face of inclement weather.