iN NUMBERS: Huge increase in voter turnout at advance polls in Kelowna

Municipal elections typically see the lowest voter turnout of all the elections, but the advance voter turnout in the current campaign could signal something different this time around.

Cities that have published advance voter turnout numbers have seen higher turnouts.

We’ll have to wait and see if that translates into a better overall turnout following municipal election day, Saturday, Oct. 17.

Here are the numbers:

• 6,978: Ballots were cast in Kelowna on the first two days of advance voting.
• 84: Per cent. That’s the increase in voter turnout for the first day of advance voting this year in Kelowna compared to the first day of advance voting in 2022.
• 438: West Kelowna residents voted on the first day of advance voting, which is up significantly from 288 in 2022.
• 19.65: Per cent. That was the total voter turnout in West Kelowna in 2022.
• 1,357: Ballots were cast in advance voting, Oct. 7. That’s up from 986 ballots cast on the first day of advance voting in 2022.
• 30.42: Per cent. That was the voter turnout in Kamloops in 2022. The City of Kamloops hasn’t released this year’s advance voting numbers yet.
• 29,096: People voted in an advance poll in Vancouver, Oct. 13. That’s more than all of the votes cast in Kamloops in 2022.
• 33: Per cent. That was Penticton’s voter turnout in 2022. The City of Penticton hasn’t released this year’s advance voting numbers yet.
• 30: Per cent. That was the average voter turnout for local elections in BC in 2022.
• 17: Of October is municipal election day.