Preliminary election turnout estimates show Richmond, once again, trailing the province in engaged voters.
Elections BC stated Friday that preliminary voter turnout is 60 per cent province-wide.
The rate was calculated by dividing the estimated total votes by the estimated number of registered voters. In order to get these estimates, Elections BC tacked on 10 per cent to the initial vote count, to account for absentee votes, and three per cent to the registered voter tally, to account for those who registered after April 11, when the election was called.
The Richmond News has applied those same calculations to each individual riding.
Of the estimated 134,466 registered voters in Richmond’s four ridings, an estimated 70,827 cast their vote, meaning the city (and Queensborough) had a turnout of 52.7 per cent.
Voter turnout fluctuated greatly throughout the city.
In Richmond North Centre it was 47.3 per cent; in Richmond-Queensborough it was 54.8 per cent; in Richmond South Centre it was 44.1 per cent; and in Richmond-Steveston it was 63 per cent.
Accounting for a three per cent increase of registered voters since the election writ, Richmond North Centre had 32,004 registered voters, Richmond-Queensborough had 36,200, Richmond South Centre had 30,996 and Richmond-Steveston had 35,266.
Then, accounting for a 10 per cent increase in total votes due to absentee ballots, Richmond North Centre should see 15,126 ballots, Richmond-Queensborough should see 19,830, Richmond South Centre should see 13,662 and Richmond-Steveston should see 22,209.
Precise voter turnout figures will be known after the final count (May 24) and when the number of registered voters is tabulated in late August, according to Elections BC.
Last provincial election, Richmond Centre had 43.7 per cent voter turnout, the worse across the province.
Voter turnout rates should not change much when comparing total votes to eligible voters because it’s estimated 96.7 per cent of eligible voters are registered in B.C.
