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Hundreds of votes to count in tightest British Columbia election races

  • Chuck Chiang

  • Canadian Press

  • October 25, 2024

A sign is shown at the Elections BC office in Victoria, B.C., on Sept. 25. Elections BC is expected to provide a breakdown today of the number of uncounted mail-in and absentee ballots in each of British Columbia's 93 ridings, potentially making clearer the outcome of the weekend's nail-biting vote. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Elections BC says several hundred ballots remain uncounted in the tightest undecided races after the province's nail-biting vote last weekend.

The NDP is ahead of the B.C. Conservatives by fewer than 100 votes in the two closest races, so the numbers released by Elections BC give room for the lead to switch, increasing the chance of a Conservative majority.

The election authority says there are 681 mail-in and absentee ballots to be tallied in Juan de Fuca-Malahat where the NDP candidate currently leads a B.C. Conservative by just 23 votes.

In Surrey City Centre, where the NDP's lead is 93 votes, there are 476 uncounted votes.

Last Saturday's B.C. election failed to produce a majority of 47 ridings for either Premier David Eby's NDP, or John Rustad's Conservatives after the initial count.

More than 66,000 mail-in and absentee ballots across the province's 93 ridings will be counted over the weekend and on Monday, while full recounts will be conducted in Juan de Fuca-Malahat and Surrey City Centre because they were so close.

The Conservatives are currently elected or leading in 45 ridings, so if they flip both of the recount races and hang onto their leads elsewhere, they will secure the narrowest of majorities.

Eby's NDP are elected or leading in 46 ridings, so if they hang onto one or both of Juan de Fuca-Malahat and Surrey City Centre while maintaining their other leads, they will be in a position to form a minority government if they secure the support of the two elected Greens.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2024.