18% of referendum voting packages have now been returned

Numbers are starting to pick up for the return of referendum voting packages.

Yesterday, the reported percentage of returns was 7.4%, but that has been updated to 18% of registered voters as of today.The interim ballot package return report for the 2018 Referendum on Electoral Reform has been updated to include an estimate of the total number of referendum ballot packages returned to Elections BC.

Approximately 597,300 ballot packages have been returned so far, representing packages from 18% of registered voters. This does not include ballot packages that have been received by Canada Post and not yet transferred to Elections BC.

Elections BC says that before today, the interim ballot package return report only included returned packages that had passed initial screening. Today’s overall estimate also includes packages on hand at Elections BC’s facilities waiting to be processed, as well as packages undergoing initial processing prior to screening.

With the Canada Post strike ongoing, Elections BC is urging voters to send in their voting package soon to ensure it’s received by the Nov. 30 deadline.