Following BC NDP Leader John Horgan’s call for an election this fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic, officials have seen a major spike in requests for mail-in ballots.
According to Elections BC, approximately 160,000 British Columbians have sent in requests for mail-in ballots over the span of four days.
The number dwarfs the total of mail-in ballots used during the 2017 election, which equalled 6,500, according to the voting agency.
Earlier this week, Elections BC said that they were anticipating a high volume of mail-in ballots for the upcoming snap election scheduled for Oct. 24 as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
Officials are estimating that just over one in every three British Columbians will opt to use a mail-in ballot as opposed to visiting voting centres in person.
“Our survey work that we conducted over the summer months consistently put the range of 35 to 40 per cent of British Columbians who expressed an interest in voting by mail, one of the remote voting options that we have in B.C.,” Chief Electoral Officer Anton Boegman says.
The heightened interest in requesting mail-in packages could equate to around 800,000 votes, says Elections BC, which could also translate to delayed results.
“The duration of time between the initial count and final count is critical to the integrity of the electoral process,” he says. “During this time, we screen all of the absentee ballots to ensure that the voter who cast them is registered, is voting correctly in their electoral district, and has not voted previously in this election. Because of this requirement to ensure only one vote per voter, this cannot take place until following the close of voting on general voting day.”
With high numbers of absentee and mail-in ballots expected, Boegman believes there is a chance the screening process could take longer than normal.
Elections BC says that all voters are eligible to vote by mail and can request a package either online or over the phone at 1-800-661-8683.
The agency says that completed vote-by-mail packages must be received before 8 p.m. PT on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Along with mail-in ballots, Elections BC has indicated that there will be options for assisted telephone voting for at-risk British Columbians as well as services offered to those in care facilities and hospitals.
Graham Cox
