BC advance voting is down in first three days compared to 2024
Elections BC says about 440,000 ballots were cast in the first three days of advance voting, down from almost 480,000 in 2024. Advance polls close Tuesday.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on cheknews.ca.
Elections BC reported that about 440,000 ballots were cast in the first three days of advance voting in the 2026 British Columbia provincial election. CHEK News and The Canadian Press reported this figure on October 20, down about 8 per cent from almost 480,000 cast in the first three days of advance voting in 2024.
The 2024 election had set a record for advance turnout: more than one million advance ballots in total, up 49 per cent from the election before it. Almost half of all votes in 2024 were cast before final voting day, compared to about 20 per cent in 2013, according to a report by the chief electoral officer. The chief electoral officer's report says advance voting has been rising for two decades.
The 440,000 advance ballots so far in 2026 represent about 12 per cent of all registered voters in British Columbia, according to Elections BC. That total will go higher: advance voting was still open when Elections BC reported the figure.
Advance voting for the 2026 election opened on Friday October 16. It was scheduled to run through Tuesday October 21 at hundreds of locations across the province. Voters do not need a reason to use advance voting; any registered voter can cast a ballot at an advance poll in their district.
Final voting day is Saturday October 24. All 93 provincial districts will have voting places open that day. Voters who cast an advance ballot do not vote again on final voting day.
Voters who have not yet cast a ballot can still do so in advance today, Tuesday October 20, or tomorrow, Tuesday October 21, until 8 pm. Elections BC lists advance voting locations and hours by address at elections.bc.ca.
Voters who are not yet registered can check their registration status or register through Elections BC before voting.
Read about the candidates in your district at /bc/provincial-2026/news.
Questions this story answers
Is advance voting lower in 2026 than in 2024?
Yes, according to Elections BC as reported by CHEK News and The Canadian Press. About 440,000 ballots were cast in the first three days of advance voting in 2026, down about 8 per cent from almost 480,000 in the first three days of 2024. The 2024 election set a record for total advance turnout, with more than one million advance ballots cast in that election, a rise of 49 per cent from the election before it.
When does advance voting end?
Advance voting in the 2026 BC provincial election runs until Tuesday October 21, 2026 at 8 pm. Advance voting was open from Friday October 16 through Tuesday October 21 at hundreds of locations across British Columbia. After that, the only way to vote is on final voting day, Saturday October 24.
When is the final voting day for the 2026 BC provincial election?
Final voting day for the British Columbia general election is Saturday, October 24, 2026. Voting places are open on that day across all 93 provincial districts. You can find your voting place through Elections BC.
How do I find my advance voting place?
Elections BC has a where-to-vote tool on its website that shows all advance voting locations and their hours. Advance polls are open until Tuesday October 21 at 8 pm. After that, voting only takes place on final voting day, Saturday October 24, 2026.
How many people have voted in advance in 2026?
About 440,000 ballots were cast in the first three days of advance voting, according to Elections BC as reported by CHEK News. That figure represents about 12 per cent of all registered voters in BC. Advance voting was still open as of October 20, so the final advance turnout will be higher than 440,000.
How does the 2026 advance voting compare to past elections?
The 2024 BC provincial election set a record for advance voting, with more than one million advance ballots cast, a rise of 49 per cent from the election before it. Almost half of all votes in 2024 were cast in advance, compared to about 20 per cent as recently as 2013. The 2026 advance voting total after the first three days is running below the 2024 pace.
Who can cast an advance ballot in the 2026 BC election?
Any registered voter in British Columbia can cast an advance ballot. You do not need a specific reason to vote in advance. Advance voting locations are open until Tuesday October 21 at 8 pm. You can find your closest location through Elections BC at elections.bc.ca.
What is the 2026 BC provincial election about?
British Columbia voters will elect 93 Members of the Legislative Assembly, one for each provincial district, on October 24, 2026. The main parties are the BC NDP, the Conservative Party of BC, and the BC Greens. You can read about the candidates and parties in your district on voche.me at /bc/provincial-2026/news.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- CHEK News: Advance voting in B.C. election is down compared to 2024cheknews.ca
- Elections BC: Where to voteelections.bc.ca
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