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Under four per cent of Prince George voters cast ballots on first advanced-voting day in 2020 B.C. election

Lower voter turnout also across the province compared to 2017
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A Prince George Elections BC voting station sign. (via Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters)

It was a low turnout in Prince George as well as B.C. on the first day of advanced voting for the 2020 provincial election. 

According to numbers released by Elections BC this afternoon (Oct. 16), there were 104,937 ballots cast across the province yesterday (Oct. 15), a drop of 14 per cent compared to 122,465 on the first day during the 2017 provincial election.

In Prince George-Valemount, just 1,306 voters headed to the advanced polls out of 36,700 registered voters, which is just 3.6 per cent.

Only three per cent of Prince George-Mackenzie voted in advance yesterday with 1,046 out of 34,433 registered residents in the riding. 

Elections BC says, with regards to the provincial total, there was a delay in receiving the preliminary figures from the following districts: 

  • Coquitlam-Burke Mountain
  • North Vancouver-Lonsdale
  • West Vancouver-Capilano

The numbers will be added to the electoral districts tomorrow (Oct. 17). 

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.

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: 

Prince George-Mackenzie

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. 

ID REQUIRED 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: 

  • Admissions letter
  • Report card
  • Residence acceptance
  • Transcript
  • Tuition/fees statement
  • Student card

Other 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.