Election results could take weeks with nearly 40% of voters considering mail in ballots

It will be an election like never before when British Columbians head to the polls on Oct. 24, roughly a year ahead of the electoral schedule.

On Tuesday, BC's chief electoral officer Anton Boegman attempted to provide some clarity on what exactly BC's election will look like in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Voting in person will be different, but the difference will be familiar to us at this stage,” Boegman said.

“Casting your vote will be like getting a take-out coffee, or picking up milk and eggs at the grocery store.”

Despite reassurances that the voting process will be business as usual, early indications show residents are considering a much different process.

According to Elections BC, roughly 20,000 eligible voters have already requested vote-by-mail ballots, with 40% of eligible voters having expressed interest in voting by mail.

Mail-in ballots are required to take a minimum of 17 days to count to ensure people haven't voted twice, meaning it could take almost three weeks before election results are known.

Those required to self-isolate or those with certain types of disabilities will also have the option to vote by telephone, however, it won’t be available to the general public.

Some familiar voting procedures will be different, as well.

For example, voters will make a verbal declaration of eligibility to vote instead of signing a voting book and will bring their own pen or pencil to mark their ballot.

Voters are able to request a mail-in voting package on the Elections BC website or by calling 1-800-661-8683 and packages must be received by 8 p.m. on Oct. 24.

BC will have seven days of advance voting starting on Oct. 16.