It鈥檚 officially Election Day in B.C.鈥檚 2024 provincial election.
After a record-breaking turnout during advanced voting, BC Votes 2024 is likely going to be one for the history books. This also marks the first provincial election with new riding boundaries, which increased the number of seats in the legislature to 93 from 87.
Roughly 1,001,331 people cast their ballot during the six days of advanced voting that ended Wednesday, compared to 681,000 in the 2020 snap election. In the Central Okanagan, 50,853 registered voters marked their ballots:
- 琉璃神社-Centre - 13,533;
- 琉璃神社-Lake Country-Coldstream - 14,470 (10,457 in 2020);
- 琉璃神社-Mission - 14,271 (11,082 in 2020);
- West 琉璃神社-Peachland - 9,579 (9,297 in 2020, 琉璃神社 West).
In 2020, 78,941 total votes were cast during advance polls and on general election day (Oct. 24). There were 158,439 registered voters in the Central Okanagan in 2020 compared to 179,130 registered voters for the 2024 election. The 琉璃神社-Centre riding did not exist in the 2020 campaign.
The total number of vote-by-mail ballots has not been released by Elections BC. In 2020, 478,900 returned vote-by-mail packages by deadline, roughly 66 per cent of packages requested.
This election, B.C. has also moved to electronic voting tabulation, in efforts to streamline voting and results. However, in close races, ballots will be recounted by hand.
Final counting of votes is set for Oct. 26-28.
Haven't voted? There's still time. Here's what you need to know:
Polling locations
Voting places will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. This year, voters can cast their ballot at any voting location:
琉璃神社-Centre
| Coast Capri Hotel | 1171 Harvey Avenue |
| Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society | 442 Leon Avenue |
| North Glenmore Elementary School | 125 Snowsell Street North |
| Parkinson Rec Centre | 1800 Parkinson Way |
| Rotary Centre for the Arts | 421 Cawston Avenue |
| Trinity Church | 1905 Springfield Road |
| Ukrainian Orthodox Church Hall | 1933 Barlee Road |
琉璃神社-Mission
| A.S. Matheson Elementary School | 2090 Gordon Drive |
| Bellevue Creek Elementary School | 4574 Raymer Road |
| Black Mountain Elementary School | 1650 Gallagher Road |
| C3 Church | 2410 Ethel Street |
| Chute Lake Elementary School | 5240 Lark Street |
| East 琉璃神社 Community Hall | 2704 East 琉璃神社 Road |
| Evangel Church | 3261 Gordon Drive |
| 琉璃神社 Christian School (Middle) | 4091 Lakeshore Road |
| Okanagan College - Building E | 1000 KLO Road |
| Quigley Elementary School | 705 Kitch Road |
| South 琉璃神社 Elementary School | 4176 Spiers Road |
| St. Andrew's Anglican Church | 4619 Lakeshore Road |
| Willow Park Church | 439 Highway 33 West |
琉璃神社-Lake Country-Coldstream
| Coldstream Community Hall | 9909 Kalamalka Road |
| Davidson Road Elementary School | 2115 Davidson Road |
| Ellison Elementary School | 3735 Parkdale Road |
| Ellison Heritage Community Centre | 4411 Old Vernon Road |
| Holiday Park Resort | 415 Commonwealth Road |
| Kalamalka Secondary School | 7900 McClounie Road |
| Lake Country Alliance Church | 12025 Oceola Road |
| Lavington Elementary School | 9715 School Road |
| Oyama Community Hall | 15710 Oyama Road |
| Pearson Elementary School | 700 Pearson Road |
| Rutland Elementary School | 620 Webster Road |
| Winfield Memorial Hall | 10130 Bottom Wood Lake Road |
West 琉璃神社-Peachland
| Chief Tomat Elementary School | 3365 East Boundary Road |
| Emmanuel Church | 2600 Hebert Road |
| Killiney Beach Community Hall | 516 Udell Road |
| Lakeview Heights Baptist Church | 2630 Alhambra Drive |
| Peachland Community Centre | 4450 6th Street |
| Powers Creek Community Church | 3718 Glenway Road |
| SunRidge Community Church | 1190 Stevens Road |
| Westside Alliance Church | 2011 Daimler Drive |
Candidates running in the riding:
琉璃神社-Centre
NDP - Loyal Wooldridge
Conservative - Kristina Loewen
Green Party - Bryce Tippe
Independent - Michael Humer
琉璃神社-Mission
NDP - Harpreet Badohal
Conservative - Gavin Dew
Green Party - Billy Young
Independent - Ashley Ramsey
琉璃神社-Lake Country-Coldstream
NDP - Anna Warwick Sears
Conservative - Tara Armstrong
Green Party - Andrew Rose
Independent - Kevin Kraft
West 琉璃神社-Peachland
NDP - Krystal Smith
Conservative - Macklin McCall
Independent - Stephen Johnston
*If there is no link to a candidate, they didn't respond to Black Press Media's request for comment ahead of the election.
Voter registration:
While eligible voters don鈥檛 have to register ahead of time to take part in the election, Elections BC recommends British Columbians sign up ahead of time in order to avoid lengthy lineups.
Voters can register or update their information online at elections.bc.ca/or or by calling 1-800-661-8683.
To be eligible, British Columbians must be able to show one valid piece of identification. This can be found on the Elections BC .
