Advance voting up in Kamloops by-election so far

Sep 22, 2017 | 1:46 PM

KAMLOOPS — After two days of advance voting in this month’s Kamloops by-election, 1,398 people have cast their ballot so far.

That’s up from the first two days of advance voting in the 2014 general election, when 1,216 cast their ballots. Total voter turnout after general voting day in 2014  was 33 per cent.

But Dr. Terry Kading, an associate professor of political science at Thompson Rivers University, says it doesn’t necessarily mean voter turnout will surpass 33 per cent in this month’s by-election.

“It’s really hard to judge. I wouldn’t have an explanation for why voting is up so far. Municipal elections don’t necessarily have the highest turnout compared to federal and provincial elections,” he says. “I can’t think of anything that is generating large numbers of people coming out to vote…I’m not convinced yet the high advance polls will turn out into higher numbers on election day but it remains to be seen for sure.”