Elections BC says voters can cast ballots in two elections Saturday, Oct. 17, but generally in separate lineups and locations.
The Story
British Columbians can cast ballots in two elections on Saturday, Oct. 17, but Elections BC says they should make sure they are in the right lineup for each ballot. The municipal election day overlaps with the second day of provincial advance voting, meaning eligible voters can vote in both elections, generally at separate locations.
Elections BC spokesperson Colleen Hildebrandt said this overlap is rare since the agency became an independent office in 1995, and it can be confusing. She said some buildings are hosting both elections, with separate voting areas marked by signs, and that election officials on site are available to help voters find the correct area.
For municipal voting locations, Hildebrandt said voters should use information posted on local government websites. For the provincial election, she said eligible voters can use their Where to Vote card or enter their address in the lookup tool at elections.bc.ca.
Provincial advance voting runs through Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, ahead of election day on Saturday, Oct. 24. Hildebrandt said voters can use any advance voting location, but should check the schedule because not every site is open each day. She also noted that more than a million people voted in advance in the last provincial election.
Hildebrandt said a Where to Vote card is not required for provincial voting, and eligible voters can register when they arrive. She said voters will need identification, and Elections BC recommends bringing two pieces of identification that show their name, with at least one also showing their current home address.
For questions, Hildebrandt said people can contact Elections BC’s call centre at 1-800-661-8683. She said the agency recognizes the situation is unique and emphasized that people need to know where to go for each election.
← More stories