Voting officials say recounts in two ridings that could determine the outcome of British Columbia’s election won’t start until Sunday afternoon.
The initial count after the Oct. 19 election ended with neither Premier David Eby’s NDP nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad securing the 47 ridings needed for a majority.
A total of 11 ridings are considered too close to declare. The B.C. NDP has been declared winners in 40 and leading in six. The Conservative Party of B.C. has won 40 ridings and is leading in five. The B.C. Greens have two seats.
That means recounts, as well as the tabulation of mail-in ballots, could still hand either party a majority or place them in a situation where negotiating with the Greens would be crucial to forming government.
The election agency also says in a statement that screening of uncounted absentee and mail-in ballots has identified 65,000 …