Vote counting in Vancouver’s two-seat city council byelection has been delayed, with the city confirming results will not be shared until all remaining voters in line at the 25 polling stations have cast their ballots.
“Anyone who was in-line when the polls closed at 8 p.m. will have the chance to cast their votes, therefore we cannot begin to share any results until the last voter has cast a ballot,” said Natti Schmid, elections communications and outreach manager for the City of Vancouver.
“The election results will likely be later than anticipated.”
CBC News has received multiple reports of long lines at polling stations across the city, including Strathcona Community Centre and Kitsilano War Memorial Community Centre, with some locations seeing about 100 people waiting to vote well past the official close of polls at 8 p.m.
Earlier Saturday, TEAM for a Livable Vancouver called on the Vancouver Election Office to increase staffing levels, citing reported wait times of up to 90 minutes at Trout Lake and Kitsilano locations.
“This poor planning for voting stations is demonstrably discouraging people from exercising their democratic right to vote,” said TEAM spokesperson Sal Robinson in a statement.
In a post on X, Mayor Ken Sim told residents: “If you’re in line before the 8 p.m. cut off, you will be able to cast your ballot — no matter how long the line is. Make your voice heard and help shape the future of our city.”
Interest in the vote has been high, with a record turnout for advance voting and mail-in ballots in a byelection.
There are 13 candidates running in the byelection to fill two seats left vacant by former councillor Christine Boyle, who was elected as an MLA, and longtime Green councillor Adriane Carr, who retired earlier this year.
Live results will be posted vancouver.ca/results once counting begins.
