British Columbians voted on Oct. 17 for municipal representatives while advance voting in the provincial election continued until Oct. 21 with final voting day set for Oct. 24.
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British Columbians voted Saturday, Oct. 17, for local representatives on councils, school boards and other regional posts, choosing from 3,500 candidates across the province.
Advance voting for the provincial general election was also under way and continued until Oct. 21, ahead of final voting day on Oct. 24.
The snap provincial election called by NDP Leader David Eby two years early, during the planned municipal election period, was denounced by local and opposition politicians.
The Union of B.C. Municipalities passed a resolution at its annual convention last month urging Eby not to hold an election during the local campaign period, and Eby later proceeded with the provincial vote.
Cori Ramsay, who was president of the union at the time of the resolution, said the two elections have caused voter confusion and that local campaigns lost staff to provincial candidates.
Despite concerns raised by some politicians, many cities and municipalities reported increased or even record turnout at advance polls, including Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, Kamloops, Surrey, Kelowna, Prince George, Cranbrook and View Royal, among others.
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