Parties retooling strategies to get supporters to mail in their ballots
You probably won't see fleets of cars and vans driven by party volunteers taking voters to the polls in this provincial election.
In the time of COVID-19, sharing a confined space with others just isn't prudent.
Parties are quickly retooling their strategies to get the vote out virtually and ensure their supporters mail in their ballots.
“We will be working within the confines of a safety plan and driving people (to polling locations) is probably not the safest way to do it,” said B.C. Liberal spokeswoman Rachael Segal. “We want to ensure that voters are well-informed and that they know how to get mail-in ballots.”
The New Democrats are planning a campaign around expanded voting opportunities through leaflets and mail, text messages and phone calls, said campaign spokesman George Smith.
“We'll be talking to supporters and asking them to get out and vote right from the start of the campaign.
“It should be noted, though, that voters can submit mail-in ballots up to and including the last voting day,” he said.
Nonetheless, as many as 800,000 people could begin voting weeks ahead of our Oct. 24 election day and that means the parties need to get their platforms out and familiarize voters with new candidates.
After Monday's snap election call, the Liberals introduced 19 new candidates while the New Democrats have to replace at least 15 retiring MLAs, including five cabinet ministers.
Typically, parties have almost four weeks to roll out their promises and hammer home the key elements of their platforms through rallies and staged events. Not this time.
The Liberals will explain their platform over the course of days, rather than weeks.
“We plan to use social media, virtual events and, obviously, phone banks, but this campaign is really about utilizing the internet,” said Segal.
Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson continued his criticism of NDP Leader John Horgan for calling an unnecessary election while addressing the Union of B.C. Municipalities on Wednesday, promising only to deliver a “provocative” environmental policy in the days to come.
The B.C. Green party is concerned that a snap election will deprive people of the time they need to review, research and debate the issues before voting, said spokeswoman Jillian Oliver.
Virtual town halls and digital media are being employed to “directly engage with voters,” she said.