337,961 ballots cast in first two days of BC advance voting
Elections BC reported 337,961 votes in the first two days of advance voting for the October 24 provincial election, nine per cent of eligible voters.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on ctvnews.ca.
The first two days of advance voting in British Columbia's October 24 provincial election produced 337,961 ballots, Elections BC reported. CTV News published the figure on October 18, 2026.
That total is nine per cent of eligible voters, Elections BC said.
The day-by-day breakdown
Friday October 16 was the first day of advance voting. Elections BC recorded 137,352 people voting at polling places across the province.
Saturday October 17 was also general voting day for BC's municipal elections. On that day, 200,609 provincial advance ballots were cast. The overlap with municipal voting day likely brought more people to polling stations, some of whom also cast a provincial advance ballot at the same location or nearby.
Both days are part of advance voting, which runs until October 21, 2026. Voters who use advance voting do not need to vote again on general voting day, October 24.
How it compares to 2024
The 2024 provincial election saw 326,963 voters in its first two advance voting days. The 2026 total of 337,961 is higher by 11,000. CTV News noted there were 130,000 more registered voters in 2026 than in 2024, making a direct percentage comparison between the two years more complex.
The 2024 election set records for advance voting overall. Nearly 50 per cent of voters cast their ballots before voting day that year. The highest single day in 2024 was 222,993 votes.
About the snap election timing
BC NDP Leader David Eby called this election two years before the fixed election date, a decision that overlapped the provincial campaign with municipal elections across the province. One concern raised by critics was that the overlap could cause voter fatigue or confusion between the two separate ballots. Saturday's combined voting day is the most direct point of that overlap.
What voters can do
Advance voting continues until October 21, 2026, at locations across BC. General voting day is October 24, 2026. You can find your polling place and check your registration details through Elections BC at elections.bc.ca. Candidates and party information for the provincial election are available at /bc/provincial-2026.
Questions this story answers
How many ballots were cast in the first two days of BC advance voting?
Elections BC reported 337,961 ballots cast in the first two days of advance voting for the October 24, 2026 provincial election. That figure covers Friday October 16 and Saturday October 17, 2026. CTV News published the number on October 18, 2026, citing Elections BC as the source.
What share of eligible BC voters have voted in advance so far?
Elections BC said the 337,961 advance ballots represent nine per cent of eligible voters. This is Elections BC's own characterization, published in CTV News on October 18, 2026. The per-cent figure comes from Elections BC's own calculation of the eligible voter population. The advance voting period runs until October 21, so the total will rise before general voting day on October 24.
How does advance voting compare to the 2024 BC provincial election?
The 2024 provincial election saw 326,963 voters in its first two advance voting days, compared to 337,961 in 2026. CTV News reported there were 130,000 fewer registered voters in 2024 than in 2026. The 2024 election set records for advance voting overall, with nearly 50 per cent of all voters casting their ballots before voting day. That year, the highest single-day total was 222,993 ballots.
How many people voted on the second day of advance voting?
200,609 ballots were cast on Saturday October 17, 2026. That was also general voting day for BC's municipal elections, meaning many voters were already going to polling places for civic races. CTV News reported the figure citing Elections BC. The overlap may have encouraged some voters to cast a provincial advance ballot at the same time as their municipal ballot.
When does advance voting end for the BC provincial election?
Advance voting runs from October 16 to October 21, 2026. General voting day is October 24, 2026. Voting places and registration details are available through Elections BC. You can also find candidate and party information for the BC provincial election at /bc/provincial-2026.
Was the high Saturday advance voting related to the municipal elections?
Saturday October 17 was general voting day for BC's municipal elections, so many voters were already going to polling places. This may have contributed to 200,609 advance ballots being cast that day for the provincial election. CTV News noted the overlap but did not quantify how many provincial advance voters were also casting municipal ballots at the same time.
What was the record single-day advance voting total in BC?
The highest number of voters in a single advance day in BC was 222,993, set during the 2024 provincial election, according to CTV News. That marked an all-time record for the province at the time. The 2024 election was notable for high advance voting overall, with nearly 50 per cent of all voters casting ballots before voting day.
Where can I vote in the BC provincial election?
Advance voting runs until October 21, 2026, at locations across the province. General voting day is October 24, 2026. You can find your voting place through Elections BC at elections.bc.ca. You can follow the provincial election at /bc/provincial-2026, where candidates and party information are listed.
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