Tag: election

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The difference a vote can make

I was at the dog park this week speaking with a young 29 year old elector who told me he had absolutely no interest in voting. We chatted for a bit about the importance of getting out to vote but I couldn’t persuade him to participate because to him, one vote wouldn’t make a difference. It got me to thinking – how many local government elections are shaped by one vote – one elector?

I heard a story ages ago from the Mayor of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Mayor Gary Foster about his election to council in the 90s where he tied with the last place candidate. Both candidates went before a judge to make a determination and that judge drew names from a hat, and declared him the winner of the election. According to The Candidate’s Guide for Local Government Elections in BC, this is still a current practice and there are two ways to deal with a tie: drawing names from a hat, or doing a runoff ballot.

So going back to the question: does your vote really matter – can one vote really make a difference? I reviewed all the voting data from every local government election in 2018 and found some interesting examples that prove one vote really does make a difference.

Anmore, Burns Lake, Highlands, Keremeos, Lion’s Bay, Lytton, McBride, Midway, New Hazelton, North Saanich, Radium Hot Springs, Silverton, Telkwa, Trail, and Zeballos had councils where every candidate was acclaimed. One could argue that a single person putting forward their nominations papers could have produced an entirely different outcome in the election.

In Belcarra, the last place elected councillor won by just one vote, and in Armstrong, Cumberland, Gold River, Greenwood, Pouce Coupe, Powell River, Sparwood, and Squamish, the last place elected councillor won by just two votes. Those communities where the last place elected councillor won by less than 10 votes: Qualicum, Slocan, Hazelton, Merritt, Sicamous, Creston, Port Alice, Sayward, Logan Lake, Coquitlam, New Denver, and Barriere.

Here’s the full list ending with Nanaimo, which had the biggest spread between the last place elected councillor with a 2564 vote spread.

CommunityVote Difference
Anmore0
Burns Lake0
Highlands0
Keremeos0
Lion’s Bay0
Lytton0
McBride0
Midway0
New Hazelton0
North Saanich0
Radium Hot Springs0
Silverton0
Telkwa0
Trail0
Zeballos0
Belcarra1
Armstrong2
Cumberland2
Gold River2
Greenwood2
Pouce Coupe2
Powell River2
Sparwood2
Squamish2
Qualicum3
Slocan3
Hazelton4
Merritt4
Sicamous4
Creston5
Port Alice6
Sayward7
Logan Lake8
Coquitlam9
New Denver9
Barriere10
Fort St James12
Kent12
Stewart12
Wells14
Queen Charlotte15
Sooke16
Montrose18
Port Edward18
Port McNeill19
Salmo19
Clearwater20
Masset20
West Vancouver20
 100 Mile House21
Metchosin22
Sun Peaks22
Peachland23
West Kelowna23
Alert Bay25
Hudson’s Hope25
Cache Creek26
Duncan26
Fraser Lake26
Fruitvale26
Port Hardy27
Gansle29
Canal Flats32
Vanderhoof33
Grand Forks34
Dawson Creek35
Lantzville35
Ashcroft36
North Cowichan36
Fort St John37
Fernie38
Smithers38
Tahsis39
Clinton44
Princeton45
Oliver47
Mission49
Tofino51
Pemberton53
Tumbler Ridge53
Mackenzie55
Port Alberni57
Whistler59
Houston61
Lillooet61
Port Clements65
Valemount68
Coldstream69
Hope69
Terrace72
Gibsons77
Kitimat82
Campbell River84
Castlegar84
Rossland85
Courtnay89
Harrison Hot Springs90
Kaslo92
Maple Ridge92
Richmond97
Williams Lake97
Sechelt98
Ucluelet98
Enderby99
White Rock99
Lumby101
District North Vancouver101
Salmon Arm101
Langley103
Golden104
Revelstoke111
Warfield115
Invermere118
Chase120
Elkford125
Nakusp126
Ladysmith127
Colwood129
Chetwynd134
Kimberley135
Taylor136
City of North Vancouver137
Lake Cowichan151
Penticton151
Osoyoos163
Northern Rockies165
Prince Rupert165
Port Moody171
Quesnel176
View Royal187
Burnaby215
Langford236
Summerland259
Surrey261
Bowen Island286
Cranbrook292
Parksville311
Spallumcheen323
Nelson331
Comox365
Pitt Meadows374
Oak Bay398
Vernon407
Saanich424
Central Saanich432
Abbotsford482
Port Coquitlam565
Esquimalt571
Delta601
Prince George692
Kamloops732
Sidney763
Chilliwack814
Victoria1147
New Westminster1298
Kelowna1602
Vancouver1692
Nanaimo2564
Full dataset can be viewed here.

It might not seem like your vote makes a difference but it can and it does. So, this election, we have two more days of advanced voting opportunities and general voting day for you to get out and cast your vote. It very well could be the difference between your candidate getting elected or not.

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Where to vote this municipal election

This October, British Columbians across the province will take part in the 2022 General Local Elections. This is a great opportunity to participate in how you want to see our great city run. In the City of Prince George, there are 9 electable positions available on general voting day: 1 mayor and 8 councillors. I encourage every eligible voter to get out and vote – at the advanced polls, on general voting day or through a mail ballot.

Here’s how to vote:

The City of Prince George uses same-day elector registration – this means that you don’t need to register to vote in advance. To vote, show up to a polling station with you two pieces of identification to prove y our place of residence (or property ownership) and identity. Eligible resident electors include the following:

  • Those 18 years of age or older on general voting day;
  • A Canadian citizen;
  • A resident of BC for at least six (6) months immediately before the day of registration;
  • A resident of the municipality on the day of registration (no minimum days required);
  • Not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in the election and not otherwise disqualified by law.

Please note that non-resident property electors who own real property in the municipality are eligible to vote in in addition to the points above, if they were the own 30 days before the election; additionally, only persons who are registered owners of the real property, either as joint tenants or tenants in common, are individuals who are not holding the property in trust for a corporation or another trust are eligible to vote.

Here’s where to vote on General Voting Day

Advance Voting Opportunities include:

  • Wednesday, October 5, 2022 – Civic Centre
  • Thursday, October 6, 2022 – Civic Centre
  • Tuesday, October 11, 2022 – UNBC (7-170 Bentley Centre)
  • Wednesday, October 12, 2022 – CN Centre

General Voting Day is Saturday, October 15, 2022 from 8:00am – 8:00pm at the following locations:

  • Blackburn Elementary
  • College Heights Secondary
  • DP Todd Secondary
  • Edgewood Elementary
  • John McInnis Learning Centre
  • Prince George & Conference Civic Centre
  • Shas Ti Kelly Road Secondary
  • Vanway Elementary

Here’s why voting is important

For the last several elections, we’ve seen low voter turnout. Getting out to vote ensures that your voice is heard and represented in the votes around the council table on the things that matter most to you. When you vote, you are choosing who will represent you. So this election, be sure to take the time to ensure your voice is heard as we re-elect our next mayor and council.

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Councillor Cori Ramsay seeking re-election in 2022 municipal election

August 31, 2022

Prince George, BC – Today, City of Prince George incumbent Cori Ramsay announced her intentions to seek re-election for the position of councillor in the 2022 municipal election. First elected in 2018, Ramsay has served the community as a strong advocate and collaborative leader for the last four years.

Over the course of the term Ramsay was appointed to the city’s Finance & Audit Committee, Accessibility Committee, and the Select Committee on Poverty Reduction. Additionally, Ramsay also ran for election to the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) board and during her time on the board (2019 – Present) became President (2021-2022) of the association representing 39 local governments across northern BC.

Last year, Ramsay was appointed to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Board, and currently sits on the Health and Social Development and Indigenous Relations Committees. She intends to run for election to the UBCM board this September at the associations Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Key priorities Ramsay hopes to focus on in the upcoming term include, but are not limited to:

  • Health and social well-being of our community, namely, the complex social issues impacting our community such as homelessness, mental health and addictions. 
  • Strategic and targeted advocacy 
  • Strong economic growth and resiliency
  • Infrastructure reinvestment
  • Art, culture, recreation, parks, trails, transit and green spaces
  • Truth and Reconciliation
  • Climate mitigation and adaptation

On running for re-election, Ramsay says this: “I will continue to work hard for the residents of Prince George. It is so important to have young voices and female representation around the council table and I hope you will vote for strong advocacy and collaborative leadership on October 15th as you head to the polls to cast your ballot.”

Cori Ramsay grew up living in poverty in the lower mainland and moved to Prince George at the age of 15 to come live with her Aunt and Uncle. She went on to study at UNBC, graduating with a English Literature degree in 2010. She complete her graduate diploma in public relations at UVIC in 2022 and currently works as Lead Marketing Analyst for Integris Credit Union.

To learn more about Cori Ramsay, visit coriramsay.ca.

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Media Enquiries:

Cori Ramsay
250-613-2610
cori.ramsay@princegeorge.ca