B.C. Provincial Election Turnout Hits 30-Year Low at 48.14%

Voter turnout in British Columbia’s provincial election has dropped to its lowest level in at least 30 years. According to preliminary figures from Elections BC, only 48.14 per cent of registered voters cast their ballots this time, down from 53.86 per cent in the 2020 election held during the COVID-19 pandemic and 58.45 per cent in 2024.

Experts believe the sharp decline may be linked to former Premier David Eby’s decision to call a snap election two years ahead of schedule, as well as the timing of municipal elections around the same period.

According to the report, the B.C. NDP received approximately 250,000 fewer votes than in the previous election, while the B.C. Conservative Party also saw its vote count decline by around 49,000.

In contrast, turnout in municipal elections increased by nearly three percentage points compared with four years ago.