B.C. voting stations affected by power outages reopened

Several voting stations were temporarily closed by power outages Saturday during the final day of B.C.'s provincial election, while another was fully closed due to an election official's travel difficulties.

The power outage closures came amid an atmospheric river that drenched the South Coast and central Interior, causing flooding on roads and downing power lines in some areas. Most of the stations that faced temporary closures reopened by the afternoon.

However, Elections B.C. reported that the only polling station in Dease Lake was fully closed Saturday because the person who was trained to run it wasn't able to get there due to the weather and road conditions.

Although Dease Lake wasn't affected by Environment Canada weather advisories, light snow fell in the region on Saturday.

About 180 voters in the Bulkley Valley-Stikine riding are registered to vote at the Dease Lake Community Hall, Elections B.C. spokesperson Andrew Watson said. Their alternative will be to vote by phone, he said.

The nearest alternative in-person polling station to Dease Lake is about an hour's drive away. "Assisted telephone voting is typically limited to voters that meet certain criteria, such as having sight loss or a health condition that prevents them from voting by other means," Watson said.

"It is also an option for voters in emergency or exceptional circumstances who would not otherwise be able to vote."

Elections B.C. is asking voters affected by the closure to call them at 1-800-661-8683 for information on how to vote.

Acknowledging the polling stations that were temporarily closed by power outages, Watson said election officials are equipped to run voting locations without electricity, if necessary. 

"As long as it's safe to continue to administer voting in a location where there's been a power outage, officials can go to a manual, paper-based process and continue to serve voters."

Watson said that Elections B.C. had no plans to extend voting hours at the stations affected by the temporary closures.

The following polls were closed due to power outages earlier in the day, but were reopened:

In addition, the G.E. Darby United Church polling station for the North Coast-Haida Gwaii riding was temporarily closed due to election official availability, although it was reopened by midday.