Elections BC Advanced Voting Numbers
Posted May 7, 2009 by Sacha Peter - Link
Category: Analysis
Comments (7)
Elections BC is releasing advanced voting numbers (2009 here, 2005-2001 here) but I am highly skeptical of reading too much into these numbers, but I will see what information I can extract out of them after all four days have been reported.
Impressive increase on the turnout. From 50k (ish) in 2005 to over 80k for day one is stunning…and some have suggested that turnout increases when voters are looking for change.
I’ll clarify my original post – I am not interested in one day’s worth of data, I am interested in what the total advanced polling numbers are.
The figures for Day 1 in 2009 are 83,000. The figures for the whole period of advance voting in the last two elections were far less (54,000 in 2005; 31,000 in 2001). Typically, advance voting is encouraged by parties for their own election day workers. Also, people likely to be absent on voting day make use of it.
These figures suggest that there may be higher interest this time than the last 2 elections. Who that ends up supporting is anyone’s guess, although the conventional wisdom has been that a low turnout favors the incumbent.
Elections BC is advertising the advance polls far heavier this time and essentially saying we have five chances to vote. This is a dramatic shift for an organization that used to make it as inconvenient as possible to vote ahead of time.
Good on them. It’s one thing the Yanks do very well in their cycles, and it’s nice to see advance polls gain momentum here.
I believe the reason for the higher advance poll numbers this time around is simply the fact that it has been promoted so much more than previously.
I would never have considered it in the past, as I thought it was only for those who couldn’t vote on the regular day (out of town, etc).
If time allows, I will be voting tomorrow morning, and volunteering my time on Tuesday, helping others get out and vote.
What is the overall picture in counting the vote? I note that there is published data updated periodically on the BC elections website and there is a recount scheduled for the 25th? of May. Are there inputs such as mail in votes that have yet to be counted? When will BC elections have all of the data necessary to come to a conclusion on each riding? When can we expect that conclusion?
Robert, the May 25th count will include absentee balloting and special ballots, which are not included on the initial count of May 12th.