Optimism for voter turnout as by-election is held in Vancouver
Posted October 14, 2017 7:50 am.
Last Updated October 14, 2017 7:54 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Today is the day. Voters in Vancouver head to the polls to choose a new city councillor and a brand new school board. However, it’s not just a by-election, but a referendum on Vision Vancouver.
It comes just over a year before the next proper civic election and the council race in particular could be as good an indicator as any at where Vision stands with the electorate.
Chief Election Officer Janice MacKenzie is hopeful voter turnout reaches 25 per cent. “If we can get more than 25 per cent, I’ll be thrilled. Obviously, the higher, the better. But I think part of the reason is that we have an entire school board that is being elected and that is unusual for a by-election. It’s typically one position.”
She admits the numbers were much lower the last time the City of Vancouver held a by-election. “In 1992, the turnout was at 10 per cent, it was for a councillor. And I know that there’s been a couple of [civic] by-elections held in the province. One was for a councillor and I think the turnout was similar, somewhere between 10 and 15 per cent.”
The council seat in Vancouver opened up when Geoff Meggs stepped aside to become Premier John Horgan’s chief of staff a couple of months ago. Voters will also elect nine school trustees to replace the board fired by the former BC Liberal government in 2016.
MacKenzie adds more than 4,000 people turned out in the two days of advance polling, which she finds encouraging.
There are 50 voting stations in the city. You can also register to vote at the polling station, provided you have two pieces of identification. The polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and make sure you stay with NEWS 1130 for the latest on the results on air and online.
