Deadline Day For Referendum

Dec 7, 2018 | 10:14 AM

Today is the final day to get your vote in on BC’s electoral reform referendum.

Elections BC must receive completed voting packages by 4:30 this afternoon.

As of this morning, 1.3 million ballots have been returned provincially, which is 41% of eligible voters

Residents are deciding if BC keeps the current first past the post system, or moves to a system of proportional representation for elections.

19,529 ballots have been returned from the Vernon-Monashee riding, for 39%, and 18,211 have taken part in the Shuswap riding, for 41 percent.

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The three Kelowna area ridings range from 36 to 39%, with Kelowna Mission at the high end.

The highest participation is in the Saanich North and the Islands riding at 52%.

It will take several weeks to tabulate the results.

Attorney General David Eby thanks the people who did take part, and says the referendum has been a “successful exercise in democracy.”

“British Columbians from all corners of the province seized this opportunity to participate in this important process, starting earlier this year with the largest public consultation in our province’s history and finishing today with the close of voting.

“I want to thank Elections BC for its hard work and commitment to running an engaging, fair and impartial referendum. Elections BC will now count and tabulate the votes, with results expected in the weeks ahead. No matter the result, this referendum has been a successful exercise of democracy.”

by Corey Fischer