BC election results are beginning to emerge after polls closed across British Columbia on Saturday, October 24, 2026, ending a campaign that will determine the province’s next government.
Voting places closed at 8 p.m. Pacific time, and Elections BC said its initial count would begin after the close of voting.
The first count is preliminary and will not include every ballot cast in the election.
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Bc Election Results: What is being counted on election night
Elections BC says the initial count includes ballots cast during advance voting, ballots submitted at district electoral offices and ballots cast at a voter’s assigned voting place on Final Voting Day.
Some special voting ballots cast within a voter’s electoral district are also included in the initial count.
Those ballots are reported by electoral district as counting teams complete their work and results are verified.
What will wait for the final count
Vote-by-mail ballots, assisted telephone voting ballots and several categories of absentee ballots are not counted on election night.
Final Voting Day ballots cast at a voting place other than the voter’s assigned location will also be counted later.
Elections BC has scheduled the final count for November 6 to 10, 2026, although the timing can depend on the number of ballots requiring additional verification.
The writs are scheduled to be returned on November 18, 2026.
How many seats are needed for a majority
British Columbia’s legislature has 93 electoral districts, so a party needs at least 47 elected members to hold a majority government.
The main party leaders on the ballot are BC NDP Leader David Eby, Conservative Party Leader Lorne Doerkson, BC Green Party Leader Emily Lowan, CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko and OneBC Leader Dallas Brodie.
The result will be determined riding by riding rather than by the province-wide popular vote alone.
Why the early count is not the final result
Election-night numbers can change as remaining ballots are added and as Elections BC completes its checks.
A candidate may also seek a judicial recount when the margin falls within the threshold established under British Columbia’s election rules.
For that reason, a candidate who is ahead in the preliminary count is not necessarily officially elected unless Elections BC has declared the result.
What happens next
Elections BC will continue updating its official results system as ballot boxes report.
Readers should treat early numbers as preliminary until the agency confirms the count for each electoral district.
The next government will be formed after the final results establish which party has the confidence and seat total required to govern.
Because the final count is still ahead, close ridings may remain unresolved beyond election night.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did voting end in the 2026 B.C. election?
Voting ended at 8 p.m. Pacific time on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
How many seats are needed for a majority in B.C.?
A party needs 47 of the legislature’s 93 seats to hold a majority government.
Are B.C. election results on election night final?
No. Election-night numbers are preliminary, and some ballots are counted during Elections BC’s later final count.
When is the final count scheduled?
Elections BC has planned the final count for November 6 to 10, 2026.
When will the election writs be returned?
The scheduled Return Day is November 18, 2026.
Fact-Checked: Key dates, the counting process, the 93-riding structure and the final-count schedule were checked against Elections BC information.
Disclaimer: Election-night numbers may change until Elections BC completes its final count and officially declares all elected candidates.