65,000 Ballots Left to Decide BC Election as Recounts Begin
(Image courtesy CBC/Ben Nelms)
Elections BC says recounts in two key districts won’t start until Sunday. Meanwhile, the final tally of mail-in and absentee ballots will continue throughout the weekend, as British Columbians await results from last Saturday’s tight election.
With nearly 65,000 absentee and mail-in ballots still uncounted—up sharply from a previous estimate of 49,000—the outcome remains uncertain. Final count procedures are scheduled to begin Saturday, October 26, and wrap up by Monday, October 28. Elections BC will update results on its website throughout the process.
The automatic recounts in Juan de Fuca-Malahat and Surrey City Centre, where NDP candidates are leading by margins of fewer than 100 votes, are expected to shape the fate of the next provincial government. The recount in Surrey City Centre should be completed by late Sunday, while the recount in Juan de Fuca-Malahat could stretch into Monday.
Results after the initial count on October 19 left the BC NDP and Conservatives locked in a tight race, with 46 and 45 seats respectively. With 47 seats needed for a majority, both parties have staked claims on several close ridings. The Greens hold two seats and could hold the balance of power in a minority government scenario.
READ MORE: BC Greens Could Hold the Key to Power Amid Election Deadlock
Elections BC also confirmed a partial recount in Kelowna Centre, prompted by an identified transcription error involving a single electronic tabulator. Despite a 148-vote lead for the Conservative candidate there, a manual recount will focus on ballots processed by the affected tabulator.
Additional recount requests in Courtenay-Comox, Maple Ridge East, Oak Bay-Gordon Head, and Surrey-Guildford were declined, with officials stating the requirements for those challenges were not met.
Counting of absentee and mail-in ballots will be prioritized by district closeness, with results expected to trickle in at set intervals. The recounts and final tallies are crucial, as both parties eye the 11 toss-up ridings that could tip the balance.
A final announcement of election results is anticipated by Monday evening, though Elections BC warns that delays are possible if recounts or the final count process run longer than expected.
