Liberal Chris Palmer wins Summerside-Wilmot byelection

Even though Elections P.E.I. had reported only one poll, the PCs Brian Ramsay conceded the win in the Summerside-Wilmot byelection to Liberal Chris Palmer. Palmer took a majority 42.3 per cent of the votes.

Palmer takes 978 votes to Ramsay's 720, Lunn's 505

Sara Fraser · CBC News · Posted: Oct 17, 2016 5:00 PM EDT | Last Updated: October 18, 2016

Chris Palmer celebrates his win Monday night. (CBC)

Even though Elections P.E.I. had reported only one poll at the time, the PCs Brian Ramsay conceded to Liberal Chris Palmer in P.E.I.'s District 21 Summerside-Wilmot byelection at around 8:45 p.m. AT Monday.

One station delayed reporting results which in turn delayed the entire results procedure.— Gary McLeod, Elections P.E.I.

Soon after, results from all 12 polls poured in, and Palmer was indeed the clear winner.

Here's the breakdown as reported by Elections P.E.I.:

Chris Palmer (Liberal) 978 votes
Brian Ramsay (PC) 720 votes
Scott Gaudet (NDP) 107 votes
Lynne Lund (Green) 505 votes

Palmer's tally gave him 42.3 per cent of the vote, with all 12 polls and the advance poll reporting.

Premier Wade MacLauchlan came by Liberal headquarters to congratulate Palmer on the win.

Congratulations <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisPalmerD21">@ChrisPalmerD21</a> on winning D21! Thanks to all candidates who put their names forward! <a href="https://t.co/MlLPvqcKtC">pic.twitter.com/MlLPvqcKtC</a>
—@WadeMacLauchlan

The Greens, meanwhile, were pleased with their showing:

Thanks D21 voters for strong support! Congrats <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisPalmerD21">@ChrisPalmerD21</a> Results show this is no longer a 2 party system. Time for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PRonPEI?src=hash">#PRonPEI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/peipoli?src=hash">#peipoli</a>
—@LundLynne

'Slower than expected'

Elections P.E.I. admitted results "were slower than expected."

The two polling stations at Wilmot Community Centre and the County Fair Mall each covered all 12 polls, and that's what led to the problem, said Chief Electoral Officer Gary McLeod.

"One station delayed reporting results which in turn delayed the entire results procedure," said McLeod in a written release Monday night.

Staff said McLeod headed to Summerside to investigate the matter personally after results finally were reported.

"The entire reporting process is being reviewed by Elections P.E.I.," the release added.

Sherry's former seat

The byelection was held to fill the seat left vacant when Liberal Janice Sherry resigned in August.

There were 3,800 people registered to vote in the district.

The current Wade MacLauchlan Liberal majority government has 17 seats held by Liberals, 8 Progressive Conservatives and one Green held by Party Leader Peter Bevan-Baker.