Final count complete in B.C. election; NDP picks up seat at Liberal’s expense

VANCOUVER – The final count of ballots is now complete, and only one riding has changed hands in favour of the New Democratic Party since election night in British Columbia.

After nearly three days of counting absentee ballots, Elections BC says the Liberals have won 49 of the province’s 85 legislative seats, one less than the 50 announced May 14, and the NDP has won 34 seats.

For the first time in the province’s history, the Green Party of B.C. will have a seat in the legislature, and Independent candidate Vicki Huntington will return to Victoria to represent Delta South.

The organization that runs elections in the province says it has also applied for a judicial recount in the riding of Coquitlam-Maillardville, which was won by the Liberals on election night but now appears to be in the hands of the NDP.

Only 35 votes separate NDP front-runner Selina Robinson from Liberal Steve Kim in the Metro Vancouver riding.

Don Main of Elections BC says almost twice as many British Columbians voted by absentee ballots in the province’s 40th General Election compared to the race in 2009.