Final votes being cast in Langford-Juan de Fuca, Vancouver-Mount Pleasant byelections

Voters are heading to the polls Saturday to cast their ballots in the Langford-Juan de Fuca and Vancouver-Mount Pleasant byelections.

Stations opened at 8 a.m. and are scheduled to remain open until 8 p.m.

On Vancouver Island, the Langford-Juan de Fuca riding was left vacant by John Horgan, who stepped down as premier in October 2022, citing his health.

Subsequently, he left his position as MLA in March of this year.

There are a number of locations you can cast your ballot:

Polling stations are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to vote in the Langford-Juan de Fuca byelection. (Courtesy Elections BC)

The Vancouver-Mount Pleasant spot is also up for grabs following the departure of former New Democrat cabinet minister Melanie Mark.

Mark is the first Indigenous woman to serve as a B.C. cabinet minister and announced her resignation in February, citing family matters.

A number of candidates are looking to claim Mark’s former riding, and voters in Vancouver also have a few options to vote:

Polling stations are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the Vancouver-Mount Pleasant byelection. (Courtesy Elections BC)

Byelection could hint at provincial election outcome 

Hamish Telford, a politics professor at the University of the Fraser Valley, says he expects the NDP to retain the two seats.

But he notes the battle for second between the Greens and BC United could be used as a gauge for the opposition parties before the next election.

Langford-Juan de Fuca had been held by Horgan since 2005, and Vancouver-Mount Pleasant had been represented by Mark since 2016.

“I think we would expect the NDP to win these, but in these two ridings the Greens came second last time,” Telford said.

Related articles: 

• Expert expects NDP to win B.C. byelections, but eyes are on second place

• Who’s running in the Vancouver-Mount Pleasant byelection?

• Byelection date for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, Langford-Juan de Fuca set

“Do they hold that position this time? We wouldn’t expect the former B.C. Liberals to win these two ridings, but how does their campaign go under their new brand of BC United?”

The presence of B.C. Conservative candidates in both byelections could also be a factor, especially since the party is now led by John Rustad, who holds a seat in the legislature, Telford said.

“I think it’s these secondary issues that we’re probably going to be looking for on Saturday,” he said.

The provincial election is slated for October of 2024.

With files from Hana Mae Nassar and Greg Bowman