British Columbia election sees record low turnout as Conservatives win majority
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Only about 48% of registered voters participated in British Columbia’s snap provincial election, a historic low, while the Conservative Party won a majority and the NDP was pushed out of power after nine years. Critics say the early election failed to inspire voters and that the campaigns did little to connect with everyday concerns.
Voter participation in British Columbia's provincial election collapsed to about 48% of registered voters, the lowest level recorded since at least 1928, according to preliminary data from Elections BC. The Conservative Party, led by interim leader Lorne Doerkson, won a sizable majority, ending the New Democratic Party's nine-year tenure that began in 2017 under the late premier John Horgan.
Outgoing Premier David Eby called the snap election on Sept. 22, saying he needed a fresh mandate to address the U.S. trade dispute. But observers said many voters were not convinced by the justification for an early vote that came amid widespread disengagement.
"Dave Eby’s campaign angered them. They were never persuaded by his arguments in favour of an election," said Geoff Meggs, former chief of staff to John Horgan.
Meggs said the NDP’s turn away from the trade-war storyline and toward dense affordability policies, including grocery-price regulation, failed to connect with voters. He also said the party did not strongly emphasize its record since 2017, leaving many people unmoved.
The NDP received roughly 274,000 fewer votes than in the 2024 election, while the Conservatives saw a decline of about 49,000 votes. The Green Party increased its vote total by approximately 23,000.
University of British Columbia emeritus professor Allan Tupper suggested that holding the provincial vote so close to municipal elections—held a week earlier—may have added to voter fatigue, pointing to a general lack of energy among the electorate. Municipal turnout in Vancouver rose to 43.4%, and provincial turnout in other recent elections, such as Quebec’s, remained significantly higher.
Democracy Watch co-founder Duff Conacher said studies link higher turnout to voters seeing important stakes, credible leaders, and competitive races, and warned that participation below 50% signals a troubling democratic decline.