Election day is May 14, but eligible voters don't have to wait until then to cast their ballots.
According to Elections BC, polls officially opened Tuesday for people who expect to be absent from the province on general voting day, have a physical disability, illness, injury, impaired mobility, are in a remote location or will be unable to get to a voting station due to environmental conditions.
Anyone who meets those conditions can vote at a district electoral office until 4 p.m. on May 14.
The local electoral district offices are:
* Prince George-Mackenzie: 1511 Lyon St. South
* Prince George-Valemount:171-1600 15th Avenue
* Nechako Lakes: 192 Stewart St. West, Vanderhoof
* Cariboo North: 2-423 Elliot St., Quesnel
"British Columbia has the most accessible voting system in Canada," said chief electoral officer Keith Archer. "Voting starts now and we're encouraging voters to take advantage of their opportunities to cast a ballot."
Advance voting takes place the week before the general voting day, May 8 through May 11, from 8 a.m to 8 p.m.
In addition to being a Canadian citizen over the age of 18, eligible voters must be a resident of the riding and have been a B.C. resident for at least the six months before election day. Voters must also be registered for the electoral district and not be disqualified by the Election Act.
New this year to the list of accepted secondary identification at polling stations are prescription bottles for those who may not have a fixed address.
Voter registration is available until April 23, either online at www.electionsbc.ca/ovr or by calling 1-800-661-8683. Voters registered before the deadline will get a Where to Vote card in the mail before advance voting begins.
As of April 15, there are 3.1 million registered voters in B.C. out of the estimated 3.3 million people eligible to cast a ballot.
***
SEEING SIGNS
For the next 24 days, winter-weakened grass will compete with the blossoming of political signs along local roads.
According to the Prince George sign bylaw, campaign signs for the provincial election are allowed on the right of ways up until May 17.
The B.C. Elections Act stipulates that signs cannot be placed within a 100-metre zone zone around the district electoral office or any building where voting is conducted during the advance or general voting periods.
However, there are also no rules surrounding in which riding candidates can place their signs.
***
FIRST FORUM
The Prince George Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the BC Northern Real Estate Board for a lunchtime all-candidates' forum on April 30.
From 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. chamber members are invited to have lunch and hear from the candidates at the Ramada Hotel.
To register for the event and submit a question, visit www.pgchamber.bc.ca.
