Thursday, November 8 ~ BC. Completed ballots for the purpose of voting in the Proportional Representation Referendum are being received by Elections BC. This is Day 2 of their ongoing published tally.
Ballots first were available October 22 (mailed to every BC voter household over a series of days) and can be submitted up until 4:30 pm on Friday, November 30, 2018.
As of today Thursday November 8, Elections BC has received 86,907 ballot packages. That’s 2.6% of the 3,291,297 eligible voter ballots.
Each ballot — while not identified with any specific voter information — does have an electoral area identifier in the top right corner.
The top three electoral areas for ballot return count as of November 8: Courtenay-Comox (4,383 ballots / 9.9%); North Island (3,407 ballots / 8.0%); Kamloops-South Thompson (3,168 ballots / 7.2%).
So far from Premier John Horgan’s riding of Langford Juan de Fuca now 287 ballots have been received (0.7%). Horgan announced last week that he is voting in favour of Proportional Representation, specifically for the Mixed Member option.
Opposition Leader Andrew Wilkinson is adhering to his position that the current First Past the Post system serves the province well, allowing voters to know exactly who they are electing.
A televised/streamed debate was held between Horgan and Wilkinson on November 8 as a way for voters to gain more insight into the Pro Rep options.
Ballots are to be sent in by postal mail using the supplied postage-paid envelope. Ballots must arrive at Elections BC by 4:30 pm on Friday, November 30 in order to be included in the count.
Ballots may also be taken directly to any Service BC Centre or Referendum Service Office up to 4:30 pm on Friday November 30. In the Victoria area that includes 100-1112 Fort St (open Monday to Friday up to November 30, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm) and also at 403-771 Vernon Ave in Gateway Village in Saanich (open Monday to Friday up to November 30, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm).