BC advance voting at 440,318 ballots after three days, below 2024 pace
Elections BC reported 440,318 ballots cast in the first three days of advance voting for the Oct. 24 provincial election, below the pace in 2024. Advance voting closes Tuesday Oct. 21.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on fraservalleytoday.ca.
Elections BC reported 440,318 ballots cast in the first three days of advance voting for BC's provincial election, according to the Vancouver Sun citing Elections BC. The Canadian Press reported that figure as down about 8% from almost 480,000 in the same three-day window in 2024.
The 2024 pace set a record for advance voting turnout in that election. This year, advance voting opened on Friday, Oct. 16. The first three-day count covers Friday through Sunday. Advance voting is open for two more days before election day, Saturday Oct. 24.
Where things stand
The lower advance voting pace compared to 2024 covers only the first three days. Many voters choose to vote on election day rather than in advance, so the final turnout will be known only after all polling places close on Oct. 24.
Elections BC's figure of 440,318 was published Monday, Oct. 20. The Canadian Press put that at about 8% below the almost 480,000 cast in the first three days of the 2024 provincial election, which was a record at the time. The 2024 election was also held in October.
Advance voting ran on six days in total: Oct. 16 to 21. That means three more days of advance voting data will be reported before election day. The Canadian Press did not report an intermediate figure for any single day.
Options for voting
Voters who have not yet cast a ballot can use advance voting on Monday Oct. 20 and Tuesday Oct. 21 until 8 p.m. The Elections BC website at elections.bc.ca lists locations and hours by area.
Advance voting locations across BC are open for both days. Some specific areas, including the Kootenays, are also offering free transit to polling locations on election day through BC Transit.
Voting day
If you miss advance voting, you can vote at your assigned voting place on election day, Saturday Oct. 24. Voters who are not registered can register in person at their voting location on election day. You can confirm your voter registration and find your voting place at elections.bc.ca.
Questions this story answers
How many people have voted in BC advance voting so far?
Elections BC reported 440,318 ballots cast in the first three days of advance voting for the BC provincial election, according to the Vancouver Sun. Advance voting ran from Friday Oct. 16 through Sunday Oct. 18 in those first three days. The number covers all advance polling locations across the province.
Is BC advance voting turnout up or down compared to 2024?
BC advance voting is down compared to the same three-day period in 2024. The Canadian Press reported the 440,318 figure as down about 8% from almost 480,000 in the first three days of advance voting in 2024, which set a record for advance turnout in that election. The 2024 election was also held in October.
When does advance voting close in BC?
Advance voting is open through Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2026, until 8 p.m. at hundreds of locations across BC. After that, the next opportunity to vote is election day, Saturday Oct. 24. You can find your nearest advance voting location through Elections BC at elections.bc.ca.
Can I still vote in advance before election day?
Yes. Advance voting is open on Monday Oct. 20 and Tuesday Oct. 21 until 8 p.m. at hundreds of locations across the province. After that, voting day is Saturday Oct. 24. Elections BC has a location finder at elections.bc.ca where you can confirm times and addresses for your area.
When is election day in BC?
Election day in the 2026 BC provincial election is Saturday, Oct. 24. All registered voters in BC can vote at their assigned voting place. You can find your voting place through Elections BC. Advance voting locations are also open Oct. 20 and 21 until 8 p.m. if you prefer to vote before Saturday.
What happened to advance voting in 2024 in BC?
In the 2024 BC provincial election, the first three days of advance voting drew almost 480,000 ballots, which was a record for advance turnout. In 2026, about 440,000 were cast in the same three-day window, which The Canadian Press put at about 8% below the 2024 pace. The 2024 election was also held in October.
Does lower advance voting turnout predict lower total turnout?
Advance voting is one part of the total turnout picture. The Canadian Press report does not say whether the lower advance voting pace predicts a lower overall turnout on Oct. 24. Many voters choose to vote on election day rather than in advance. Final turnout is only known after all votes are counted on voting night.
Where can I find my advance voting location in BC?
Elections BC lists all advance voting locations and their hours at elections.bc.ca. Advance voting locations are open Oct. 20 and 21 until 8 p.m. You can also check through Elections BC if you want to confirm your registered voter status before heading to the polls on election day, Saturday Oct. 24.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Fraser Valley Today / The Canadian Press, Oct. 20, 2026fraservalleytoday.ca
- Vancouver Sun, advance voting numbers, Oct. 19, 2026vancouversun.com
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