What you need to know about proportional representation ballot

There’s plenty of information out there about proportional representation, but let’s break down what you need to know about the ballot itself.

As of Monday morning, there were a total of 682,300 voting packages that had been returned to Elections B.C., a total of 21 per cent. This doesn’t include ballots received by Canada Post but not yet transferred to Elections B.C. Of the ballots received, about 10.6 per cent have been screened by Elections B.C. Here are a couple of frequently asked questions about the pro-rep ballot and how you can make sure your vote counts:

When’s the deadline to submit my ballot?

Ballots must be received by Elections B.C. by 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 30.

If I mail my ballot, will it be received in time?

If you’re mailing your ballot, it’s advised you get your ballot into the mail by the end of this week due to rotating Canada Post strikes. The Chief Electoral Officer also has the authority to extend the voting-period deadline if needed.

Instead of mail, can I drop off my ballot somewhere?

If you don’t want to leave your ballot at the mercy of Canada Post, you can always drop off your ballot in person. Keep in mind — they’ll still need to be in by 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 30.

Ballots can be delivered to a Service B.C. centre or a Referendum Service Office. Find a list of locations and hours at this website.

My ballot never came in the mail. Where can I get one?

If your ballot didn’t arrive in the mail by Nov. 2, you can request one by:

■ Calling Elections B.C. at 1-800-661-8683.

■ Visiting elections.bc.ca/ovr.

■ Visiting a Referendum Service Office or Service B.C. centre.

Don’t forget — you only have until midnight of Nov. 23 to request a voting package.

Do I have to answer both questions on the ballot? Will my ballot still count if I only answer one?

No. You can answer both questions or just one. Your ballot will still be counted even if you only answer one question.

If you vote to keep firstpast-the-post on the first question, you’re still allowed to answer the second question.

If you decide to answer the second question, you don’t have to rank all three systems. You can rank just one, two or all three systems.