There have now been 700,000 mail-in ballots requested from ElectionsBC.

Spokesperson Andrew Watson says that’s unprecedented compared to about 6,500 mail-in ballot requests before the 2017 provincial election.

“Certainly over the last few elections, advanced and convenience voting options like voting by mail are becoming more popular. But we haven’t seen an increase like we’ve seen this time in votes by mail. It really is unprecedented,” Watson says.

Advanced polling is now open, and Watson says people in rural communities near Kamloops shouldn’t have to travel too far if they vote in person.

“Certainly that’s something that each of our district electoral officers would consider when they look at the voting places that will be used for an election in their community. We do try and have as many places availabe as possible, so that absolutely voters in rural communities aren’t having to travel long distances in order to vote.”

For the Kamloops-North Thompson, there are three voting stations in Kamloops, one in Barriere and one in Clearwater.

For the riding of Kamloops-South Thompson, there are two stations in Kamloops and one in Chase.

Meanwhile, the Fraser-Nicola riding has voting stations in 11 communities: Merritt, Hope, Ashcroft, Logan Lake, Lillooet, Cache Creek, Clinton, Lytton, Boston Bar, 70 Mile House and Loon Lake.

A list of dates for when polling stations are open can be found here.

“Not every voting place is open necessarily all seven days of the advanced polling period. Check your where-to-vote card, it’ll show what the advanced voting places are and the days they’re open,” Watson says.

“You can go to wheretovote.electionbc.ca, or call us. We can let you know what places are nearest to you and when they’re open.”