Soul searching on the province's tax destiny comes to an end for British Columbians later this afternoon, when Elections BC takes up the task of counting and computing the results.
Ballots for the HST referendum must be at Canada Post's Vancouver processing plant or an Elections BC collection centre or a Service BC centre by today's 4:30 p.m. deadline.
Related: Where to drop off your HST ballot
As early as Tuesday, Elections BC will begin verifying that ballots are from registered voters and then representatives from the government and opposition and from the pro- and anti-HST groups will observe the tally.
Elections BC spokesman Don Main says more than three million ballots were initially mailed out, another 14,300 people additionally registered to participate and 19,500 called to request replacement voting packages.
The unusual method of making tax policy began with a grassroots campaign that galvanized hundreds of thousands to sign a petition towards ousting the levy, culminating in a province-wide vote that ultimately hands the decision to the public.
Meanwhile, the Fight HST coalition has renewed its call for an independent inquiry into the referendum process.
Leader and former B.C. premier Bill Vander Zalm said hundreds of voters have complained that they have yet to receive their ballots.
He said the organization's website has been swamped with complaints from voters who contacted Elections BC to request a ballot but never received one.
Vander Zalm said Elections BC can still extend the voting deadline for any voter who is entitled to vote.
"Something has gone wrong for thousands of voters and Elections BC should do everything it can now to ensure that every voter who wants a ballot in this HST referendum gets one and it is counted," Vander Zalm said in a statement issued three hours before Fridays' deadline.
Results are expected between August 25 and the end of the month.
With files from The Canadian Press
