Coquitlam-Maillardville to get judicial recount with just 35 votes between top two candidates
By Elections BC
After the completion of final count in the Coquitlam-Maillardville electoral district for the 40th Provincial General Election, Elections BC will be making an application to the Supreme Court for a judicial recount. A total of 35 votes separate the top two candidates, and under the Election Act, an application for a judicial recount must be made by the District Electoral Officer if the difference between the top two candidates is less than 1/500 or .2% of the total ballots considered.
After final count, BC NDP candidate Selina May Robinson received 9,928 votes and BC Liberal candidate Steve Kim received 9,893 votes for the Coquitlam-Maillardville electoral district. The total ballots considered is 21,897, and the threshold for requesting a judicial recount is 43 votes.
A judicial recount must be conducted in accordance with the Election Act. The Supreme Court will determine the date and time for the judicial recount and must consider ballots and ballot accounts as prepared for the initial and final ballot counts, and declare the result of the election in the electoral district.
The following and their legal counsel may be present at a judicial recount:
·the District Electoral Officer and one other election official
·the Coquitlam-Maillardville electoral district candidates
·one agent for each candidate present at the judicial recount, and two agents for each candidate who is not present, and
·the Chief Electoral Officer and an agent of the Chief Electoral Officer
A candidate may file a notice of appeal within two days after the results of the judicial recount are declared.
For more information on recounts, refer to the Election Actor the Guide to Recounts.
