BC Election 2024 Update

British Columbians are largely in a waiting period following the October 19 election, with neither the BC NDP nor the BC Conservatives hitting the 47 seats required to get to a majority.

As of this morning, following the initial count, the BC NDP are either elected or leading in 46 ridings, while the Conservatives had won or were leading in 45 seats. The BC Green Party is either leading or elected in 2 seats. There are several recounts anticipated already where the margin between the top two candidates is 100 votes or fewer at the conclusion of initial count.

Historic Result

A powerful step forward for gender equity in British Columbia! With CBC confirming 82 of 93 seats, the province is on the verge of a historic breakthrough—over 40% of elected officials are women and marginalized gendered individuals. Among the confirmed seats, 43 have been won by women and gender-diverse candidates. With 11 seats still undecided and women leading in several close races, BC could become the first province in Canada to achieve a majority of women and marginalized gendered individuals in elected office. This potential victory would represent a historic leap toward dismantling the systemic barriers that have long hindered gender equality in leadership. (The Equal Voice Foundation)

Timelines for Final Results 

Elections BC issued a statement late Saturday night/Sunday morning outlining the next steps for counting what are largely out of district ballots. That process continues on Sunday however they stated that less than 0.3 percent of preliminary results remained to be reported.

October 26 to 28: Final count of vote-by-mail and absentee ballots.

November 5: Writ return day. When all of the writs have been returned, the Chief Electoral Officer provides the Clerk of the House of Commons with a certified list of all of the members elected to serve.

Recounts

As per Elections BC, “In a provincial election, there are four types of counts.”

1. Initial count: takes place immediately after the close of voting on Final Voting Day.
2. Final count: count of absentee ballots about one week after initial count.
3. Recount of initial count: as part of final count, some or all of the ballots considered at initial count may be recounted in certain circumstances that meet legislated requirements.
4. Judicial recount: conducted after final count in certain circumstances that meet legislated requirements.

Leaders’ Speeches

The speeches from all three-party leaders give us an indication of what is next for tone, priorities, and potential alliances.

BC Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau was not successful in her bid to run in a new seat against a BCNDP incumbent, however her speech addressed her intention to provide mentorship and guidance to the next leader and team with two new MLAs for her party entering the legislature.

David Eby and John Rustad both set the tone for the months ahead in their speeches to their supporters last night. Eby spoke to the fact that “a majority of British Columbians voted for our shared progressive values. We intend to work together to form a government built on those common values and focused on delivering for you.”

Rustad focused on the historic night for the BC Conservatives but noted that his intention will be on looking at every opportunity to get back to the polls by bringing down a BCNDP government if the results remain the same.

Moving Ahead

No matter the results, the province is likely entering into a polarizing period in BC politics that includes a wide gap between the rural north and the urban south. At BWSS, our work continues to be to advance policies that work for increasing safety, services and justice for victims and survivors of intimate partner, domestic and sexualized violence wherever they are living in the province of British Columbia. For more information please email us at endingviolence@bwss.org or see our website at www.bwss.org