Bowen’s advanced vote for the municipal election Wednesday saw 284 people cast ballots.
This is up from 202 people in 2014 and 238 in 2011.
Wednesday's 284 ballots are not the only ones that have been cast. Bowen's chief elections officer Hope Dallas sais that mail ballots are trickling in every day.
While the trend is encouraging for Bowen's voter turnout (the island had the highest turnout in MetroVancouver in 2014 with 66 per cent of Bowen's 2913 qualified electors taking part) most of the action is yet to come–election day is just a week and a day away.
October 10 was the only advance voting day. However, Dallas wants to stress to islanders, that even if people missed Wednesday’s opportunity and won’t be here on October 20, they can still vote. Islanders need to visit BIM and ask for a mail ballot. In-person mail ballots are available until Friday, October 19. Islanders can fill out mail ballots on-site or take them away, so long as they’re returned by October 20 at 8 p.m.
If you don’t know if you’re registered to vote, call the municipality at 604-947-4255 or email [email protected].
People on the registration list don’t need to bring identification on election day, but if you’re a non-resident property elector or not on the voters list, you need to bring identification that shows your name and something proving your residence. This could be two pieces (a bank card and a phone bill) or a single piece (a drivers licence.) You do not, however, necessarily need photo identification.
The day of, there will be two places you can vote. On-island you can vote at the Bowen Island Community School. On the mainland you can vote at Westcot Elementary School, 760 Westcot Road, West Vancouver. Election day runs between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The Undercurrent will be at BICS on election night to bring you up-to-date results.
For undecided voters out there, there are still a couple of opportunities to speak with candidates. Sunday there will be an all candidates meeting hosted by Bowen Island Arts Council between 2 and 4 p.m. to discuss arts and culture. Tuesday, the residents of Belterra will host another council candidate get-together between 7 and 9 p.m.
