More than 700K mail-in ballots requested ahead of B.C. election

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Mail-in ballots are proving to be popular as we get closer to this weekend’s election.

According to Elections BC, about 725,000 mail-in ballots have been sent out and the agency needs people to send them back as soon as possible.

The record number of mail-in ballots represents about 20 per cent of eligible voters in B.C.

Hamish Telford, a political scientist with the University of the Fraser Valley, says election night will likely focus on who is leading rather than who won their ridings.

“At this point, the NDP is up in this riding or the Liberals are up in that riding, but it’s going to be very difficult to declare anyone elected on that night simply because there are so many mail-in ballots,” he tells NEWS 1130.

There is also the question of how many requested mail-in ballots are actually returned. In 2017, of the nearly 11,000 requested ballots, 6,500 were cast.

Mail-in ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Oct. 24.

At the four-day mark of advance polls, fewer people choosing that route this time than in 2017.

On the first day of advance voting, nearly 105,000 people cast their votes.

Related stories: 

• B.C. election promises: On the campaign trail today

• B.C.’s snap election means 700k ballots will be counted manually, delaying results

Meanwhile, B.C.’s three main party leaders are in the home stretch of their respective campaigns.

BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson was in Pitt Meadows where he announced how infrastructure money would be spent and he detailed a plan to build affordable housing.

NDP Leader John Horgan is campaigning on Vancouver Island before heading to Surrey.

Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau is talking about her party’s plans for BC Ferries Monday afternoon.

Stay up to date with the latest election news on our B.C. Votes 2020 page.