More than 400,000 British Columbians have requested mail-in ballot packages for the upcoming election on Oct. 24.
According to Elections BC, the package requests surpassed the 400,000 mark just one week after NDP leader John Horgan called for the snap election amid COVID-19.
Elections BC has set the estimated number at 406,000 mail-in ballot requests as of Monday, September 28.
The number of requests is a major spike when compared to the 6,500 mail-in ballots submitted during B.C.’s previous election in 2017.
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. Elections BC originally predicted that around 800,000 British Columbians would use mail-in voting ballots, however, the numbers after week one indicate that number could be much higher.
With the high numbers of absentee and mail-in ballots anticipated ahead of the election day, Boegman believes there is a chance the screening process could take longer than normal.
This delay as a result of mail-in votes could mean British Columbia doesn’t have the conclusive results of the election until the final count, scheduled for Nov. 6.
To vote by mail, British Columbians can either request a voting package online at elections.bc.ca/ovr or request one over the phone by calling 1-800-661-8683.
Elections BC says that completed vote-by-mail packages must be received before 8 p.m. PT on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Graham Cox
