Advance polls open in the B.C. election
The 2024 B.C. election officially kicks off Thursday morning as advance voting locations open their doors.
There are 343 advance voting places, according to Elections BC. Not all will be open every day during the advance polling period.
Early voting runs from Oct. 10 to 13, then again on Oct. 15 and 16.
Polls so far have suggested a tight race between David Eby's NDP and John Rustad's Conservatives.
Voters in the Surrey-Cloverdale riding said they were drawn to the ballot box by a number of issues, including housing and affordability.
Advance voting has played a prominent role in previous elections.
According to Elections BC, 35 per cent of ballots cast in the 2020 pandemic election came from advance voting. That’s up from 30 per cent in 2017 and 20 per cent in 2013.
This year's paper ballots will be collected by electronic tabulators and almost all of them are expected to be officially counted on the Oct. 19 election day.
Advance voting places will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voters can find the most convenient location on their 'where-to-vote' cards, which were sent in the mail.
“The process was pretty streamlined, a little confusing, because every other year they give you a where-to-vote card or something in the mail to verify, (but) nothing this year,” said a voter named Gary as he left the polling station.
The issue appears to be widespread with voters in several ridings reporting the same problem.
In an email to CTV News, a spokesperson for Elections BC confirmed it is aware of the issue.
“All where-to-vote cards have been printed and mailed. We are also hearing from some voters who have not yet received their card and we are working with Canada Post to expedite delivery of any cards that are still in transit.” said Andrew Watson of Elections BC.
He said while voters are encouraged to bring their cards, they are not required to vote.
Those who have not received their card can find their nearest location on Elections BC’s website.
Voter ID
All voters must prove their identity and residential address before they can cast their ballot. There are three ways to do this.
Option 1
Show one of these pieces of ID:
- A B.C. driver’s licence
- A B.C. Identification Card (BCID)
- A B.C. Services Card (with photo)
- Another card issued by the government of B.C. or Canada that shows your name, photo and address
- A Certificate of Indian Status
Option 2
Show any two pieces of ID or documents that both show your name. At least one must have your current address.
Government-issued identity documents:
- B.C. CareCard
- B.C. Services Card (without photo)
- Birth certificate
- Canadian Forces Photo Identification card
- Citizenship certificate
- Correctional Service Canada Offender Identification card
- Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence
- Firearms Possession Only Licence
- Old Age Security Identification card
- Passport
- Social Insurance Number card
- Veterans Affairs Canada Health Care Identification card
- Other government-issue documents
- Canada Child Tax Benefit statement
- Government cheque or cheque stub
- Income tax assessment notice
- Property tax assessment
- Statement of Canada Pension Plan benefits
- Statement of government employment insurance benefits paid
- Statement of Old Age Security
- School, college, or university documents
- Admissions letter
- Report card
- Residence acceptance
- Transcript
- Tuition/fees statement
- Student card
- Other documents
- Bank/credit card or statement
- Confirmation of Residence (3003680)
- Hospital bracelet/document
- Insurance statement
- Membership card
- Mortgage statement
- Personal cheque (printed by bank)
- Prescription medication containers
- Provincial Where to Vote card
- Public transportation pass
- Residential lease
- Statutory declaration prepared by a lawyer or notary public attesting a voter’s identity and/or residence
- Utility bill
Electronic documents (e.g. e-bills) and electronic scans of a paper document are acceptable.
Option 3
Voters who don’t have identification can have their identity vouched for by another person. The voucher must be:
- a registered voter resident in the voter’s electoral district, or
- a spouse, parent, grandparent, adult child, adult grandchild or adult sibling of the voter, or
- a person with the authority to make personal care decisions for the voter.
Vouchers must provide acceptable identification.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'There is no electricity': Canadian travellers in Cuba urge caution in hurricane's wake
Cuba's power grid was knocked out by Hurricane Rafael, which ripped across the country as a Category 3 storm. In western Cuba, it toppled buildings and pushed 50,000 people to find shelter elsewhere. Cubans were already enduring rolling blackouts due to energy shortages.
Sparks fly as MPs question minister on pension implications of proposed election date change
Sparks flew at a parliamentary committee Thursday as MPs questioned Canada's democratic institutions minister about a widely opposed provision in electoral reform legislation that seeks to delay the next fixed election date by one week.
Three charged in One Direction singer Liam Payne's death
Three people have been charged in relation to One Direction singer Liam Payne's death in a fall from his Buenos Aires hotel balcony last month, Argentine authorities said on Thursday.
RCMP already 'on high alert' for potential wave of migrants after Trump election
Canada's federal police force has been preparing for months on a contingency plan for a potential massive influx of migrants across the border following Trump's promise of 'mass deportations' of millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
'There was no stopping this baby from coming': Woman gives birth while aboard Newfoundland ferry
A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.
Volkswagen models recalled for airbag safety precaution
Recall notices have been issued for some Volkswagen models from 2006 to 2019 for airbag safety issues.
America votes: How celebrities are reacting to Trump's decisive victory
Celebrities from Hulk Hogan to Ariana Grande are sharing their reactions to the U.S. election, which will see Donald Trump return to the White House.
3 Winnipeg police officers charged with breach of trust, theft
Three members of the Winnipeg Police Service have been charged with breach of trust, obstruction of justice and theft following a lengthy investigation
Canadian arrested in Florida for allegedly possessing child sex abuse content
A 25-year-old Canadian man was arrested in Florida last weekend after police say he was caught with child sex abuse content.