As we wait for a result, the Premier says he is very comfortable with a turnout rate in the low 40-percent range in the proportional representation referendum.
John Horgan says the turn was “pretty decent” noting some municipal election results came in much lower and those results were respected as being legitimate.
“Democracy is a precious jewel but you have to show up,” Horgan said. “We did our best to encourage people to participate.”
“The opposing side did their very best to encourage people to participate. I think we did, on both sides, the best we could to engage the public. I am comfortable with a 40% turn out and I think it is going to be very, very close.”
Horgan is proud of his campaign supporting pro-rep, a campaign he says was based on hope and not fear.
Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver echoed those sentiments as well.
“42 per cent, 43 per cent that is higher than some turnouts in some ridings in the provincial election,” he added. “My recollection is the City of Langford had a municipal election recently and 18% showed up.”
“If you don’t like the democracy you have a choice you can vote or not vote. Choosing not to vote is a legitimate thing that we allow in our present democracy.”
Weaver gave kudos to those who chose to vote and for those who abdicated their responsibility, he says they will just have to live with the result.
Liberals Differ in Opinion
While the Premier and leader of the BC Green Party shrug off the turnout rate, the leader of the BC Liberals is doing anything but.
Andrew Wilkinson says the vote, and how it was structured, should never have been allowed to happen.
“Now we are going to live with the consequences,” Wilkinson said. “If there is a 41 per cent turn out as we have [right now] and 21 per cent of the 41 per cent vote for the change, we will sort out where we are then.”
“Then [of that] 21 percent, [they] will vote for one of three systems. So you are looking at maybe 10 per cent of the population dictating how the other 90 per cent are going to vote. That is an issue.”
Wilkinson says the province also wasted $15-million on the referendum instead of running it on a general election ballot at little to no extra cost.
Due to what he calls a confusing two question ballot, Wilkinson is also predicting a “huge number of spoiled ballots.”
That is expected to increase a little when the final result is announced, Elections BC hopes to have those results out before Christmas.