VICTORIA – Preliminary voting results for the Chilliwack-Hope and Port Moody-Coquitlam by-elections will be reported following the close of general voting as election officials at 35 voting locations complete the initial count process under sections 115-125 of the Election Act.

As they become available, the preliminary results will be posted at:

• Chilliwack-Hope – http://electionsbcenr.blob.core.windows.net/electionsbcenr/resultCHH.html
• Port Moody-Coquitlam – http://electionsbcenr.blob.core.windows.net/electionsbcenr/resultPOM.html.

Preliminary voting results will include:

• number of votes cast for each candidate
• number of ballot boxes reported
• total number of ballot boxes, and
• percentage of popular vote

General voting locations are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 19, 2012.

Final voting results will be available on the Elections BC website (www.elections.bc.ca) after absentee ballots are counted and final count is concluded.  Final count is scheduled to begin on April 30, 2012. 

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Contact:
Don Main
Communications Manager
Elections BC
Phone: 250-387-1709 
Email: Don.Main@elections.bc.ca 
Website: www.elections.bc.ca 

Elections BC is a non-partisan Office of the Legislature responsible for the administration of the Election Act, Recall and Initiative Act, and conduct of referenda under the Referendum Act.

VICTORIA – Advance voting locations for the Chilliwack-Hope and Port Moody-Coquitlam by-elections will be open Wednesday, April 11 through Saturday, April 14, 2012 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 The Chilliwack-Hope advance voting locations are:

• Agassiz Agricultural Assn Hall, 6800 Pioneer Ave, Kent, B.C.
• Canyon Lanes Bowling Alley, 47585 Trans-Canada Hwy, Boston Bar, B.C.
• Royal Canadian Legion 228, 344 Fort St, Hope, B.C.
• Twin Rinks Arena, 5745 Tyson Rd, Chilliwack, B.C.

 The Port Moody-Coquitlam advance voting locations are:

• Coquitlam College, 516 Brookmere Ave, Coquitlam, B.C.
• Port Moody Recreational Complex, 300 Ioco Rd, Port Moody, B.C.

Voters may also vote at the district electoral office until 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2012.  The district electoral offices are located at:

• 21-5725 Vedder Rd, Chilliwack, B.C.
• 2322 St. Johns St, Port Moody, B.C.

Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays

Voters who are unable to attend advance or general voting may also request a Vote by Mail package from the district electoral office or through the Elections BC website at www.elections.bc.ca.

Voters may register or update their voter information when they go to vote.  All voters must prove their identity and current residential address before voting or registering when voting.   The types of identification that can be used are detailed on the Elections BC website at www.elections.bc.ca/index.php/voting/#ID.

General Voting Day for the by-elections is Thursday, April 19, 2012 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Locations for general voting are posted on the Elections BC website, contained in a by-election pamphlet delivered to all Chilliwack-Hope and Port Moody-Coquitlam households, and on yellow Where to Vote cards mailed to each registered voter in the electoral district. 

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Contact:
Don Main
Communications Manager
Elections BC
Phone: 250-387-1709
Email: Don.Main@elections.bc.ca 
Website: www.elections.bc.ca  

Elections BC is a non-partisan Office of the Legislature responsible for the administration of the Election Act, Recall and Initiative Act, and conduct of referenda under the Referendum Act.

VICTORIA – The 2011 annual financial reports for registered political parties and registered constituency associations are available for public inspection at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Suite 100 – 1112 Fort St, Victoria and on the Elections BC website. 

The deadline for filing the annual financial reports for the 2011 fiscal year with the Chief Electoral Officer was April 2, 2012. These reports are required to contain the following information on the 2011 financial activities of each registered political party and constituency association:

• political contributions accepted
• assets, liabilities, surplus or deficit as of December 31, 2011
• total dollar amount of income tax receipts issued
• transfers of money, goods or services received and given
• fundraising function information
• other income received and expenditures made
• loans and guarantees 

A total of 163 reports were required to be filed by the April 2, 2012 deadline. All entities filed the required reports by the deadline, except:

• Advocational International Democratic Party of British Columbia 

This organization may file their report by June 29, 2012, if it is accompanied by a $100 late filing fee and, if required, an auditor’s report. 

Due to extenuating circumstances, extensions to the filing deadline were granted to the following entities:

• Surrey-Tynehead Constituency Association BC NDP to April 16, 2012
• Green Party Political Association of British Columbia to April 23, 2012 

Elections BC’s Financial Reports and Political Contributions system allows the public to search and download political contribution data and view scanned images of financial reports filed under the Election Act and Recall and Initiative Act. 

Links:

Scanned reports (political party and constituency association)

• http://bit.ly/HU9Pa8

S-A1 political party political contribution data

• http://bit.ly/HeJFPN

S-A1-A political party political contribution data

• http://bit.ly/Hm6NLj 

S-A1 constituency association political contribution data

• http://bit.ly/HPYy8u 

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Contact:
Don Main
Communications Manager
Elections BC
Phone: 250-387-1709
Email: Don.Main@elections.bc.ca 
Website: www.elections.bc.ca  

Elections BC is a non-partisan Office of the Legislature responsible for the administration of the Election Act, Recall and Initiative Act, and conduct of referenda under the Referendum Act.

VICTORIA – Nominations of candidates for the Chilliwack-Hope and Port Moody-Coquitlam by-elections closed at 1 p.m. today.  

There are four candidates nominated in the Chilliwack-Hope electoral district as follows:

DAHLBY, Lewis Clarke
Libertarian 

MARTIN, John
BC Conservative Party 

O’MAHONY, Gwen
BC NDP 

THRONESS, Laurie
BC Liberal Party 

There are three candidates nominated in the Port Moody-Coquitlam electoral district as follows:

CLARKE, Christine N.
BC Conservative Party 

MARSDEN, Dennis
BC Liberal Party

TRASOLINI, Joe
BC NDP           

“B.C. voters have tremendous access to voting opportunities that reflects the diverse needs of today’s voter from student to senior,” said Keith Archer, Chief Electoral Officer.  “If voters aren’t sure of where to vote I encourage them to contact us.” 

B.C. voters have more ways to vote than anywhere else in Canada.  During the by-elections, voters may vote:

• At their assigned voting place on General Voting Day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• At advance voting locations in their electoral district from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• At any other general or advance voting place under absentee rules, or
• If they can’t make it to a voting place, they may vote at the district electoral office or Vote by Mail until General Voting Day. 

For more information and a complete list of advance and General Voting Day voting locations, visit the Elections BC website at www.elections.bc.ca. 

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Contact:
Don Main
Communications Manager
Elections BC
Phone: 250-387-1709
Email: Don.Main@elections.bc.ca 
Website: www.elections.bc.ca  

Elections BC is a non-partisan Office of the Legislature responsible for the administration of the Election Act, Recall and Initiative Act, and conduct of referenda under the Referendum Act.

VICTORIA – By-elections will be held on Thursday, April 19, 2012 to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Chilliwack-Hope and Port Moody-Coquitlam electoral districts. The seats became vacant when Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Iain Black resigned on Monday, October 3, 2011 and Chilliwack-Hope MLA Barry Penner resigned on January 9, 2012. 

“British Columbia offers voters an accessible and flexible voting process, ensuring that all citizens who are eligible to vote are able to do so,” said Keith Archer, Chief Electoral Officer. “Elections BC is committed to administering the voting process in British Columbia with the needs of voters in mind.”

Residents of the two electoral districts will be eligible to vote if they are 18 years of age or older on Thursday, April 19, 2012, (General Voting Day), they are a Canadian citizen and they have lived in B.C. for the past six months.

B.C. voters have more ways to vote than anywhere else in Canada. During the by-elections, voters may vote: 

• At their assigned voting place on General Voting Day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• At advance voting locations in their electoral district from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• At any other general or advance voting place under absentee rules, or
• If they can’t make it to a voting place, they may vote at the district electoral office or Vote by Mail during the 28 days from when the election is called until General Voting Day.

“B.C. voters have tremendous access to voting opportunities that reflects the diverse needs of today’s voter from senior to student,” said Archer. “If voters aren’t sure of where to vote I encourage them to contact us.” 

Voter registration for the by-elections closes on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at midnight. Visit Elections BC’s secure Online Voter Registration system at www.elections.bc.ca/ovr  to register to vote or to update your voter registration information, or call Elections BC toll-free at 1-800-661-8683.

Voters may also register or update their voter information when they go to vote. Voters must prove their identity and place of residence before voting or registering when voting. The types of identification that can be used are detailed on the Elections BC website at www.elections.bc.ca/index.php/voting/#ID.

Information including dates, times and locations of advance and general voting will be posted on the Elections BC website, published in local newspapers, contained in a by-election pamphlet delivered to all Chilliwack-Hope and Port Moody-Coquitlam households, and on yellow Where to Vote cards mailed to registered voters in the electoral districts. 

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Attachments:
Fast facts – By-election
Photo: Keith Archer, Ph.D., Chief Electoral Officer – print | web 

Contact:
Don Main
Communications Planning Officer
Elections BC
Phone: 250-387-1709
Email: Don.Main@elections.bc.ca 
Website: www.elections.bc.ca  

Elections BC is a non-partisan Office of the Legislature responsible for the administration of the Election Act, Recall and Initiative Act, and conduct of referenda under the Referendum Act.

Fast Facts – By-election

• Elections BC administers by-elections under the Election Act, R.S.B.C. 1996.
• Under the Constitution Act, a by-election must be called within six months of a seat becoming vacant in the Legislative Assembly, unless the seat is vacant due to the recall of the MLA, in which case a by-election must be called within 90 days.
• The Chief Electoral Officer received the warrants for the by-elections on October 6, 2011(Port Moody-Coquitlam) and January 30, 2012 (Chilliwack-Hope).
• 192 by-elections have been administered in B.C.; seven under the current Act.
• The first by-election occurred on June 22, 1872 in the Cariboo electoral district following the, resignation of MLA Cornelius Booth; three previous by-elections were called in Esquimalt, New Westminster and Cariboo, but no votes were held as the seats were filled by acclamation.
• A by-election involves a single electoral district, although concurrent by-elections may be held, such as:
  • the March 15, 1989 Nanaimo and Vancouver-Point Grey by-elections,
  • the February 17, 1994 Matsqui and Vancouver-Quilchena by-elections, and
  • the October 29, 2008 Vancouver-Burrard and Vancouver-Fairview by-elections.
• There were 32,709 registered voters in the Chilliwack-Hope electoral district as of May 12, 2009 and 33,487 registered voters in the Port Moody-Coquitlam electoral district.
• Voter turnout in the 2009 General Election was 51.85% of registered voters in Chilliwack-Hope and 57.44% of registered voters in Port Moody-Coquitlam.
• The last by-election to be held in B.C. was the May 11, 2011 Vancouver-Point Grey by-election.
  • Voter turnout for the 2011 by-election was 38.94%. 

VICTORIA – In a report submitted to the Legislative Assembly today, Chief Electoral Officer Keith Archer, Ph.D. recommends four changes to British Columbia’s Election Act.  

“Three recommendations have previously been put forward to the Legislative Assembly,” said Archer, “and we have added one new recommendation that will allow Elections BC to trial new voting technologies to meet the diverse needs of B.C.’s voters.”  

The Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on Recommendations for Legislative Change – November 2011 is available on the Elections BC website at www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2011-CEO-Recommendations.pdf.  

Since 1995, Chief Electoral Officers have recommended amendments to electoral legislation under section 13(1)(d) of the Election Act.  

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Contact:
Don Main
Communications Planning Officer
Elections BC
Phone: 250-387-1709
Email: Don.Main@elections.bc.ca 
Website: www.elections.bc.ca  

Elections BC is a non-partisan Office of the Legislature responsible for the administration of the Election Act, Recall and Initiative Act, and conduct of referenda under the Referendum Act.

VICTORIA – The Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) Referendum – June 13-August 26, 2011 is now available. 

The report describes the activities Elections BC undertook to administer the referendum.  It also contains:

• voting results by electoral district, and
• a statement of Elections BC’s expenses 

The report is available on the Elections BC website at: www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2011-CEO-HST-Referendum-Report.pdf.   

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Contact:
Don Main
Communications Planning Officer
Elections BC
Phone: 250-387-1709
Email: Don.Main@elections.bc.ca 
Website: www.elections.bc.ca 
 

Elections BC is a non-partisan Office of the Legislature responsible for the administration of the Election Act, Recall and Initiative Act, and conduct of referenda under the Referendum Act. 

VICTORIA – The Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the Vancouver-Point Grey By-election, May 11, 2011 is now available.

The report describes the activities Elections BC undertook to administer the by-election.  It also contains:

• Voting area by voting area voting results
• Summaries of financing reports by candidates, registered political parties and registered constituency associations
• Summaries of election advertising disclosure reports submitted by registered advertising sponsors, and
• Statements of Elections BC’s expenses

The report is available on the Elections BC website at: http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2011-CEO-VNP-By-Election-Report.pdf

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Contact:
Anton Boegman
Assistant Chief Electoral Officer, Electoral Operations
Elections BC
Phone: 250-356-2713
Email: Anton.Boegman@elections.bc.ca
Website: www.elections.bc.ca

Elections BC is a non-partisan Office of the Legislature responsible for the administration of the Election Act, Recall and Initiative Act, and conduct of referenda under the Referendum Act.

VICTORIA – The 2011 BC Conservative Party leadership contestant financing report is available for public inspection at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Suite 100 – 1112 Fort Street, and on the Elections BC website. 

The deadline for filing the leadership contestant financing report with the Chief Electoral Officer was August 26, 2011. This report is required to contain the following information on leadership contestant financial activities:

• political contributions accepted
• contestant expenses incurred
• transfers of money, goods or services received and given
• fundraising function information
• other income received and expenditures made
• loans and guarantees 

One leadership contestant was required to file a financing report by August 26, 2011 and filed the required report by the deadline. 

Elections BC’s Financial Reports and Political Contributions system allows the public to search and download political contribution data and view scanned images of financial reports filed under the Election Act and Recall and Initiative Act. 

Links:
Scanned reports

• http://bit.ly/naUhmd

S-A1 political contribution data

• http://bit.ly/oTJyUj

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Contact:
Don Main
Communications Planning Officer
Elections BC
Phone: 250-387-1709
Email: Don.Main@elections.bc.ca 
Website: www.elections.bc.ca 

Elections BC is a non-partisan Office of the Legislature responsible for the administration of the Election Act, Recall and Initiative Act, and conduct of referenda under the Referendum Act.

VICTORIA – The voting results of the 2011 HST Referendum were submitted to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly today. 

The referendum question was:

Are you in favour of extinguishing the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) and reinstating the PST (Provincial Sales Tax) in conjunction with the GST (Goods and Services Tax)?  Yes/No

 The final voting results are:

 The final voting results by electoral district are:

Beginning June 13, 2011, Elections BC mailed an HST Referendum Voting Package to each registered voter. As of the July 22, 2011 deadline to register to vote and request a voting package, there were 3,063,170 registered voters. A total of 1,653,528 ballot packages were considered during the count, representing 53.98% of the total registered voters. 38,294 ballot packages were not considered as they did not meet the requirements of the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) Referendum Regulation. 

The Acting Chief Electoral Officer extended two key dates in the HST Referendum to compensate for a disruption of Canada Post services; the deadline to request an HST Referendum Voting Package was extended to midnight, July 22, 2011 and the close of voting was extended to 4:30 p.m. Friday, August 5, 2011. 

The Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the 2011 HST Referendum, June 13-August 26, 2011 is expected to be published in November 2011 and will describe the activities Elections BC undertook to administer the referendum, voting results by electoral district and a statement of Elections BC’s expenses. 

For more information, visit the Elections BC website at www.elections.bc.ca. 

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Contact:
Don Main
Communications Planning Officer
Elections BC
Phone: 250-387-1709
Email: Don.Main@elections.bc.ca 
Website: www.elections.bc.ca  

Elections BC is a non-partisan Office of the Legislature responsible for the administration of the Election Act, Recall and Initiative Act, and conduct of referenda under the Referendum Act.