The numbers continue to be fairly low in Prince George during the opening two days of advance voting across B.C.
During the first day, Prince George-Mackenzie recorded 1,046 cast ballots. As per Elections BC this morning (Oct. 17) another 740 votes went through yesterday (Oct. 16), bringing the riding's updated total to 1,786.
.@ElectionsBC says day two had a total of 100,339 voters for advance polls across the province. Day one has been corrected after three districts were not counted, which brings the total for day 1 to 111,894. Two days combined is 212,233 #bcpoli #cityofpg #bcvotes @PGMatters
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) October 17, 2020
The riding has a total of 34,433 constituents. The 1,786 votes equate to just 5.2 per cent cast in the riding during advance voting to date.
In Prince George-Valemount, there were 1,395 ballots on day one and 1,075 yesterday with the riding now at 2,470.
The riding has a total of 36,700 registered voters which means just an advance turnout rate of 6.7 per cent during the first two days.
Elections BC says as of Oct. 15 at 11:59 p.m., a total of 708,170 vote-by-mail packages have been requested including 4,528 in Prince George-Mackenzie and 4,487 in Prince George-Valemount.
The province has now seen 212,233 people use advance polls out of 3,485,858 registered voters.
So per cent wise, Prince George-Mackenzie has had just 5.2 per cent of registered voters advance vote while Prince George-Valemount has had 6.7 per cent of registered voters cast an advance ballot #bcpoli #cityofpg #bcvotes @PGMatters
— Jess Balzer (@jessicajbalzer) October 17, 2020
Prince George-Valemount advance voting from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Oct. 15 to 21 - Columbus Community Centre - 7201 Domano Blvd., Prince George
- Oct. 15 to 21 - Elks Hall - 172 Holdway St., McBride
- Oct. 15 to 21 - Golden Years Lodge - 1300 Main St., Valemount
- Oct. 15 to 21 - Our Saviour's Lutheran Church - 3590 Dufferin Ave., Prince George
- Oct. 15 to 21 - Prince George Civic Centre - 808 Canada Games Way, Prince George
Prince George-Mackenzie advance voting from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Oct. 19 to 21 - Christ Our Saviour Church Hall - 4514 Austin Rd. W, Prince George
- Oct. 17 to 18 - Mackenzie Secondary School - 500 Skeena Dr., Mackenzie
- Oct. 15 to 17 - Prince George Family Worship Centre - 3400 Hart Hwy., Prince George
- Oct. 15 to 21 - Trinity United Church - Spruceland Area - 3555 Fifth Ave., Prince George
Voters can also cast a ballot at a district electoral office now until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
If you still want to vote by mail, you can request a package online or call Elections BC at 1-800-661-8683.
Elections BC recommends that a package be requested no later than Oct. 17.
The candidates in both Prince Geoge ridings are as follows:
Prince George-Valemount:
- Mackenzie Kerr, BC Green Party
- Laura Parent, BC NDP
- Sean Robson, BC Libertarian Party
- Shirley Bond, BC Liberal Party
Prince George-Mackenzie
- Mike Morris, BC Liberal Party
- Joan Atkinson, BC NDP
- Catharine Kendall, BC Green Party
- Raymond Rodgers, BC Libertarian Party
- Dee Kranz, Christian Heritage Party of BC
WHAT COVID-19 PROTOCOLS TO EXPECT AT IN-PERSON VOTING LOCATIONS
- Physical distancing
- Capacity limits
- Election officials wearing personal protective equipment (masks, face-visors, etc.)
- Protective barriers
- Hand sanitizing stations
- Frequent cleaning of voting stations and frequently touched surfaces
- Election workers trained on safe workplace guidelines and pandemic protocols
Elections BC also recommends bringing your own pen or pencil to vote.
It is also recommended voters wear masks if they wish to do so. You will not be asked to remove a mask to vote.
Option One: Show ONE piece of the following ID:
- A BC Driver Licence
- A BC Identification Card
- A BC Services Card (with photo)
- Another card issued by the Government of B.C. or Canada that shows name, photo and address
- A Certificate of Indian Status
Option Two: Show any of the following two pieces of ID or documents that both show your name. At least one MUST have your current address.
Government-issued identity documents:
- BC Care Card
- BC Servies Card (without photo)
- Birth certificate
- Canadian Forces Photo Identification Card
- Citizenship certificate
- Correctional Service Canada Offender Identification Card
- Firearms Possession and Acquisition License
- Firearms Possession Only
- Old Age Security Identification Card
- Social Insurance Number card
- Veterans Affairs Canada Health Care Identification card
Other government-issued documents:
- Canada Child Tax Benefit Statement
- Government cheque or cheque stub
- Income tax assessment notice
- Statement of Canada Pension Plan benefits
- Statement of government employment insurance benefits paid
School, college or university documents:
- Bank/credit card or statement
- Confirmation of Residence (3007)
- Hospital bracelet/document
- Insurance statement
- Membership card
- Mortgage statement
- Personal cheque (printed by bank)
- Prescription bottle
- Provincial Where to Vote card
- Public transportation pass
- Residential lease
- Statutory declaration prepared by a lawyer or notary public attesting a voter's identify and/or residence
Note: Electronic documents (e.g. e-bills) and electronic scans of a paper document are acceptable; hand-written information on a document is not.
Option Three: Voters who don’t have identification can have their identity vouched for by another person.
Vouchers must be:
- A registered voter resident in the voter's electrical district or
- A spouse, parent, grandparent, adult child, adult grandchild or adult sibling of the voter or
- A person with the authority to make personal care decisions for the voter
Vouchers must provide acceptable ID. The voter and the voucher must each make a solemn declaration confirming the voter’s identity and residential address.
A voucher who is not the voter’s relative or personal care authority may only vouch for one voter. A relative may vouch for any voters who are members of their family. A personal care authority may vouch for all voters over whom they have written authority.
A voter who has been vouched for may not vouch for another voter in that election.
General voting day is scheduled for Oct. 24.
