Only seven hours are left before voting stations close and the candidates for the Fraser-Nicola riding are looking forward to knowing who's going to win.
It’s officially Election Day in B.C.’s 2024 provincial election and, after a record-breaking turnout during advanced voting, BC Votes 2024 is likely going to be one for the history books. This also marks the first provincial election with new riding boundaries, which increased the number of seats in the legislature to 93 from 87.
For the Fraser-Nicola riding, candidates Francyne Joe (NDP), Tony Luck (Conservative), and Jonah Timms (Green), have spent the last month battling it out as they campaigned and spoke with constituents about their platforms.
At the halfway mark before results, the candidates said they are feeling a range of emotions, from excitement to nervousness, that election day is here. At the same time, each are hopeful they will be chosen as the new MLA.
Joe, who is currently in Merritt, said she will be both waiting for the results, having an election party, at the Shackan Indian Band office.
"I'm feeling nervous," Joe said. "I have no idea which way its (the voting) is going. But, it was very encouraging to hear that the presentation that I did at Hope Secondary went well. They (the students) did a vote afterwards at the end of the week, and apparently NDP won that one. So, it was a good way to start the weekend."
Luck, who is also in Merritt right now, said he will be hosting an election party downtown at the Country Music Hall of Honour.
"(I'm) feeling really, really, good about the results," Luck said. "When we were door knocking, visiting people, there was this real mood for change. And people are looking for something quite different. So there's a lot of good things happening out here for sure."
Timms, who is in Lilloeet, said he will be hosting an election party at his home with a few of his friends and family.
"I'm feeling good," Timms said. "I'm excited to see what comes in tonight, and I think that this campaign period has been really positive for the Greens, positive for myself. And I'm really happy with what I've done in the election. And so, I'm really looking forward to tonight, when we get the results."
Luck, who is a real estate agent in Merritt, said he is running because he believes a change is necessary in B.C. and believes that can be done through the Conservatives. Born and raised in Vancouver, Luck worked 26 years with BC Hydro, was a city councillor in Mission, and held leadership positions with the Fraser Valley Regional District and the Southern Interior Local Government Association
Timms, who works with the B.C. Ministry of Forests (MOF) as a First Nations relations advisor, said he is running because he is tired of rural communities not being heard, nor having their needs met, by elected leaders of the province. Currently living in Lillooet, Timms worked with Alberta wildfire, was a park interpreter for Parks Canada, and did invasive species removal for the New Zealand government.
Joe, who works for the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of BC as a Human Resources Team Leader, said she is running because she feels she has the experience to be a good representative for this riding.
A member of the Nlaka’pamux First Nation, she grew up in the Fraser-Nicola with her family. She served as the president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), and was the partnerships manager for the National Association of Friendship Centres.
Though the candidates are mixed about the upcoming results, they all agree that everyone should go out there and vote.
"This is such an important election. And I just want them (constituents) to use their voice and to use their vote," Joe said.
Luck also said this election is important.
"Get out and vote. We need every vote that we can get, if we want to bring change to the province right now," he said.
Meanwhile, Timms wants voters to know what a difference they're making.
"This isn't something that everyone gets to do to, to choose their government. All of us together have, collectively, made a very big choice for our province over the last week of advanced voting and today with voting," Timms said. "
Voting stations opened at 8 a.m. across B.C. and will close at 8 p.m.
Roughly 1,001,331 people cast their ballot during the six days of advanced voting that ended Wednesday, compared to 671,231 in the 2020 snap election.
The total number of vote-by-mail ballots has not been released by Elections BC. In 2020, 478,900 returned vote-by-mail packages by deadline, roughly 66 per cent of packages requested.
This election, B.C. has also moved to electronic voting tabulation, in efforts to streamline voting and results. However, in close races, ballots will be recounted by hand.
Final counting of votes is set for Oct. 26-28.
Haven’t voted? There’s still time. Here’s what you need to know:
Polling locations:
Voting places will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. This year, voters can cast their ballot at any voting location:
- Agassiz Agricultural Association Hall (6800 Pioneer Avenue in Agassiz)
- Battlefield Community Centre (Battlefield Road in Lytton)
- Canyon Lanes Bowling Alley (47585 Trans-Canada Highway in Boston Bar)
- Coldwater Community Hall (109 400th Street in Merritt)
- Dewdney Elementary School (37151 Hawkins Pickle Road in Dewdney)
- Elder's Lodge - Seton Lake/Tsal'alh Band (600 Sk'il Mountain Road in Shalalth)
- Gold Bridge Community Centre (40 Hurley Street in Gold Bridge)
- Memorial Hall (290 Esplanade Avenue in Harrison Hot Springs)
- Harrison Mills Community Hall (1995 School Road in Harrison Mills)
- Leq'á:mel Hall (43101 Leq'a:mel Way in Lake Errock)
- Lillooet and District Rec Centre (930 Main Street in Lillooet)
- Logan Lake Fire Hall (120 Chartrand Place in Logan Lake)
- Lower Nicola Band Hall (85 8 HIghway in Lower Nicola)
- Lower NIcola Community Hall (2383 Aberdeen Mine Road in Lower Nicola)
- Merritt Civic Centre (1950 Mamette Avenue in Merritt)
- Our Lady of Lourdes Church (5A and Douglas Lake Road in Quilchena)
- Royal Canadian Legion Branch 228 (344 Fort Street in Hope)
- Seabird Island Millennium Hall (2736 Sq'ewqel Drive in Seabird Island)
- Shackan Community Hall (4943 Potatoeillshie Road in Merritt)
- Silver Creek Elem School (63831 School Road in Hope)
- Spences Bridge Community Hall (3641 8 Highway in Spences Bridge)
- The Meeting Place (9390 Manuel Road in Douglas Lake)
- Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation Health Building (35100 99 Highway in Pavillion)
- Village of Lytton - Parish Hall (140 7th Street in Lytton)
- Xaxli'p Admin Office (1433 Fountain Valley Road in Fountain)
- Xwísten Band Office (1A Joseph road in Lillooet)
- Yale Community Centre (65050 Albert Street in Yale)
Candidates running in the riding:
- Tony Luck (Conservative Party of B.C.)
- Jonah Timms (B.C. Green Party)
Learn more about their platforms reading any of the following stories:
Fraser-Nicola candidates tackle Agassiz-Harrison questions
Fraser-Nicola candidates square off
Fraser-Nicola candidates square off once more
Voter registration:
While eligible voters don’t have to register ahead of time to take part in the election, Elections BC recommends British Columbians sign up ahead of time in order to avoid lengthy lineups.
Voters can register or update their information online at elections.bc.ca/ovr or by calling 1-800-661-8683.
To be eligible, British Columbians must be able to show one of the following pieces of identification:
- A B.C. driver’s licence
- A B.C. Identification Card
- A B.C. Services Card, with photo
- A Certificate of Indian Status
- Another card issued by the B.C. government, or Canada, that shows your name, photo and address
Check back with your local paper for the results as they roll in.
