Update: Close to 600,000 Ballots Returned

Nov 16, 2018 | 2:17 PM

The number of BC referendum ballots being returned is starting to pick up.

Elections BC says 597,300 of the packages have been received, representing 18 percent of registered voters.

“This does not include ballot packages that have been received by Canada Post and not yet transferred to Elections BC, ” says Rebecca Penz, Director, Communications.

The deadline for returning the ballots is two weeks from today on Nov 30th.

Residents are being asked if they want to keep the current first-past-the post voting system, or change to a system of proportional representation

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Nov. 15

The MLA for Vernon-Monashee says the low return for the BC referendum is a huge concern, and he encourages people to vote.

Eric Foster of the Liberals says the process will determine how BC’s voting system works, but just 7 percent of ballots have been returned provincially, and 10 percent in his riding, with two weeks to go to the Nov. 30 deadline.

“This is a decision that is going to effect how we do government in this province forever. It’s not about how you vote. Every single citizen should be voting on this. This is a huge deal for the province,” Foster tells Beach Radio News.

Premier John Horgan is not setting a turnout number that would make the process legitimate, just saying he wants to see as much participation as possible.

Foster also isn’t sure what that number should be.

“Even if it triples from now to the closing date, you’re talking less than 30 percent of the people making a decision. The decision will be made on 50 percent plus one of the people that vote. That’s 15 percent of the population that could change how we do government forever, so it’s a very scary thing. We need to get people out to vote.”

Listen to MLA Eric Foster on need for more people to vote: