B.C. NDP calls for vote recount in 3 Metro Vancouver ridings
Richard Zussman | CBC News | Posted: May 12, 2017 7:55 PM | Last Updated: May 12, 2017
Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, Vancouver-False Creek and Richmond-Queensborough decided by less than 600 votes
The B.C. NDP is requesting Elections BC recount votes in the ridings of Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, Vancouver-False Creek and Richmond-Queensborough.
The three Metro Vancouver seats were all won by the Liberals and decided by less than 600 votes. The closest of the group was B.C. Liberal Jas Johal knocking off NDP candidate Aman Singh by 263 votes in Richmond-Queensborough.
The NDP also wants officials to recount Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, where Liberal Joan Isaacs beat incumbent Jodie Wickens by 268 votes.
"With the election still undecided, we're working hard to ensure every last vote is counted properly," said B.C. NDP provincial director Raj Sihota in a statement.
"In an election this close, British Columbians deserve to have full confidence in the results and that means ensuring the ballots in close races are counted thoroughly and carefully."
There are still around 176,000 absentee ballots that have not yet been counted.
Elections BC will start recounting votes on May 22 and then count the absentee ballots once that is completed. It is expected to be done by May 24.
Currently, the B.C. Liberals have 43 seats, the B.C. NDP 41 and the Greens 3.
The B.C. Liberals have already requested a recount in Courtenay-Comox and Maple Ridge-Mission, the two closest ridings on election night, both won by the NDP.
Corrections:- This story has been updated to reflect a change by Elections BC to the preliminary vote count in Coquitlam-Burke Mountain on Friday, May 12. A previous version of the story had the Liberal lead at 170 votes. May 12, 2017 8:40 PM