British Columbian voters will be going to the polls on Oct. 24.
On Monday morning, Premier John Horgan announced he had asked Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin to dissolve the legislature and call a general election.
"I want people to know I have struggled mightily with this decision," Horgan said. "Our campaign will fully comply with public health directives. I do believe it can be conducted safely."
Horgan said the provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Elections BC have worked on procedures that will allow B.C. to hold a safe general election. The election comes a year before the province's legislated election date of Oct. 16, 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic shows no sign it will be over by next year, Horgan said.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything. I know people are uncertain and worried about the future," he said. "I believe the best way forward is to put the politics behind us."
Horgan said part of that safety plan will include expanded advance voting opportunities and mail-in ballots.
British Columbians want a "secure and stable" government, which can manage the challenges facing the province as it continues through the pandemic and into the post-pandemic recovery, he said.
Over the course of the election, the NDP, Liberals and Green parties will have a chance to put forward their plans for the province, and British Columbians will get to decide which to vote for, Horgan said.
"I believe the choice in this election is quite clear," Horgan said.
Locally, Liberal MLAs Shirley Bond (Prince George-Valemount) and Mike Morris (Prince George-Mackenzie) have declared they will be seeking reelection. In the Nechako Lakes riding, Liberal MLA John Rustad confirmed he will seek his fifth consecutive term.
Anne-Marie Sam, who finished second to Rustad in the 2017 election, is the NDP candidate for Nechako Lakes. As of Monday, the BC NDP had yet to determine who will be their candidates for the two Prince George ridings.
"We haven't chosen one yet, we have a couple of people interested and people working on their nomination package," said Ron Williams, president of the NDP's Prince George-Valemount electoral district. "So we're very close to having candidates, and that's true in both ridings."
A spokesperson for the Green Party did not reply to a request for comment as of press time.
VOTING IN A PANDEMIC
In a statement issued on Monday afternoon, B.C. Chief Electoral Officer Anton Boegman said all voters will have the option of voting in person or by mail.
“Our main focus is ensuring a safe and accessible voting process during the pandemic,” Boegman said. “We have been working with (provincial health officer) Dr. Bonnie Henry’s office to develop our safe voting plans and make sure that voters don’t have to choose between safeguarding their health and exercising their right to vote."
Boegman and Henry are scheduled to hold a press conference on Tuesday to discuss the safety measures that will be in place for the election.
In a release on Monday, Boegman unveiled some of the details about the plans for the election.
To vote by mail, voters will need to request a voter package by going online to elections.bc.ca/ovr or by calling 1-800-661-8683. The vote-by-mail package will be mailed to the voter with instructions on how to complete and return it.
Voting in person will be available on election day, as well as during the advance voting period between Oct. 15 and Oct. 21.
There will be a total of seven days of advance voting – up from six days in 2017 – and voting places will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting places will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day as well.
Information on where to vote will be sent to registered voters before the start of the advance voting period, and will be available online. To register or update your voter information, go online to elections.bc.ca/ovr or call 1-800-661-8683.
COVID-19 safety measures will be in place at in-person voting places, including physical distancing requirements, capacity limits, personal protective equipment for election officials, protective barriers, hand sanitizing stations and regular cleaning of frequently-touched surfaces.
Voters will be encouraged to wear a mask at the voting place, and will not be asked to remove it to vote. Voters will also be asked to sanitize their hands before and after voting. Voters will also be able to bring their own pen or pencil to mark their ballot.
– With files from Ted Clarke, Citizen staff
