Just over two weeks since the federal election, voters in two B.C. provincial ridings are back at the polls to elect new MLAs.
As many as 100,000 people are eligible to cast ballots Wednesday's byelection in the side-by-side ridings of Vancouver-Burrard and Vancouver-Fairview.
The B.C. Liberals say the global economic turmoil and its impact on Vancouver has become a major issue in both ridings. But the New Democrats say the economy is just one of several issues of concern to voters.
Prior to the byelection, the Liberals held Vancouver-Burrard and the NDP held Vancouver-Fairview.
The votes are being touted by some as a referendum on both parties ahead of next spring's provincial election but others expect a low voter turnout with province-wide municipal elections just weeks away.
There are currently 45 Liberals and 32 New Democrats in the B.C. legislature, plus the two vacancies.
The provincial seats became available when Vancouver-Burrard Liberal Lorne Mayencourt resigned to make an unsuccessful run for the federal Conservatives, and NDP MLA Gregor Robertson resigned in Vancouver-Fairview to run for mayor of Vancouver.
There are some high profile candidates in the running to replace Mayencourt, including former Vancouver Canucks' owner Arthur Griffiths and Mark Emery, the self-proclaimed "Prince of Pot." Newcomer Spencer Herbert is also running under the NDP banner.
The Vancouver Fairview race pits the NDP's Jenn Mcguinn against Liberal candidate Dr. Margaret McDiarmid.
For a full list of candidates in both ridings, visit the Elections BC website.
