Today is last chance to vote before Tuesday
More than 400,000 people have cast ballots so far
Today is the last chance for advance voting in the provincial election, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The number of advance voting days this year has increased to six from the four in the last election, in 2013.
Figures released Friday by Elections B.C. show that 405,707 people have voted ahead of general election day on Tuesday, with activity particularly brisk when advance voting began last weekend.
Over 20 per cent of the 1.8 million votes cast in the 2013 election came at advance polls.
As of April 11, there were 3,156,991 registered voters, according to Elections B.C.
Voting places and times for today and election day are available on the Elections B.C. website at elections.bc.ca by clicking on Where to Vote.
“For May 9, voters do have an assigned voting place within their district,” said Elections B.C. spokesman Andrew Watson. “It’s usually quicker and easier to vote at that place, but they don’t have to.
“They can vote at any voting place within their district, or outside of their district, too.”
The assigned voting place is printed on the voting card mailed to registered voters.
“Check the card for the assigned place, bring it with you,” Watson said.
You must be at least 18 to vote, a Canadian citizen and a B.C. resident for six months. Eligible voters who are not registered can do so when they go to vote.
All voters are required to show identification, such as a driver’s licence or B.C. identification card, that includes their address, or two documents from an approved list, with both having the voter’s name and one having the voter’s current address.
Watson said preparations for a provincial election start gearing up 12 to 18 months ahead of time, a process that includes the hiring of over 22,000 election officials. Among them are electoral officers and deputy officers for B.C.’s 87 electoral districts.
There are 14 electoral districts on Vancouver Island.
For more information, go to elections.bc.ca.