With two weeks left in B.C.’s mail-in referendum on electoral reform, the Tri-Cities’ voter turnout is trailing most of the province.
While 6.5% of ballots were returned across B.C. as of Wednesday, only 1.7% of registered voters in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody had mailed in their packages.
But the low turnout may not necessarily be a sign that Tri-City voters are procrastinating, according to Maria Dobrinskaya, a spokesperson for the Vote PR campaign, which supports a shift to proportional representation.
“A number of those folks didn’t get their ballots until well into the second week of distribution,” she said, noting parts of Vancouver Island and rural communities received their ballots earlier. “We are seeing higher returns in areas that received their ballots the week of [Oct. 22] as opposed to those that have just arrived.”
According to Elections BC, ballots were expected to arrive in the Tri-Cities by Nov. 2. Residents who have not received a ballot can request one before Nov. 23 (see sidebar, right). All ballots must be sent to Elections BC by Nov. 30.
While representatives from the No to PropRep campaign did not return repeated requests for comment from The Tri-City News, PR opponents have highlighted the turnout issue.
Last week, BC Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson said he was “gravely concerned” with the possible low percentage of returned ballots and was encouraging voters to mail in their packages.
“I think all of us, for the sake of our democracy, have our fingers crossed that we get a good turnout on this [referendum],” he said during an event at the Richmond Chamber of Commerce last Friday. “Because the last thing any of us want is a 15% turnout, which is a reasonable projection from where we are now.”
But Dobrinskaya said turnout so far in the electoral reform mail-in process is tracking better than the same period of time during 2011’s HST referendum, and turnout is expected to ramp up in the next 10 days.
She also criticized the No to PropRep campaign for “actively discouraging people from voting to a certain extent,” noting the results are binding even if turnout is low.
“It is a decision for those who showed up,” she said. “We don’t discount election results that may have been as a result of low turnout.”
She added many mayors and city councillors in B.C. are chosen in votes with 37% turnout and lower and “They’re still valid.”
Still, Dobrinskaya said she believes support exists for a change in electoral system.
“The lack of voter engagement in general… is an indication for many of us that we need to upgrade our system,” she said. “We know the support is out there.”
REFERENDUM INFO AT COQUITLAM OFFICE
Residents can learn more about the B.C. Referendum on Electoral Reform at Service BC locations around the province. In the Tri-Cities, an office has been set up at Eagle Ridge Plaza (310-1194 Lansdowne Dr., Coquitlam) and is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Nov. 30. Along with information and resources, the offices are a place where eligible voters can pick up a ballot, fill it out and send it in all in one location.
@gmckennaTC
– with files from the Richmond News
