Ladysmith-Oceanside appears destined for a judicial recount, with just over a dozen votes separating the NDP's Stephanie Higginson and Conservative Kris McNichol as of Monday, Oct. 26. (Image Credit: Elections BC/NanaimoNewsNOW photo)

By Alex Rawnsley

potential judicial recount

Ladysmith-Oceanside separated by 13 votes, what’s next?

Oct 26, 2026 | 4:02 PM

NANAIMO — Separated by a baker’s dozen, residents of a recently redrawn provincial riding will have to wait at least another two weeks before learning who will represent them in Victoria.

Ladysmith-Oceanside, comprising Ladysmith, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and Nanoose Bay, remains the province’s closest electoral race with NDP incumbent Stephanie Higginson and Conservative challenger Kris McNichol separated by 13 votes as of Monday, Oct. 26.

While Higginson, through her campaign team, has denied multiple requests for an interview, McNichol told NanaimoNewsNOW on election night he’s just watching the count as it happens.

“It’s going to come down to a recount, mail-in ballots, or whatever needs to happen, and if I’m lucky enough to win that, then my job is to represent the constituencies of Ladysmith and Oceanside, so we’ll have a voice on the mid-Island, and I’ll make sure my voice is heard.”

The process of deciding a winner will take at least until Nov. 10 but likely much longer.

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On election night itself, polling station staff counted both advance votes and ballots cast on Saturday.

Still to be processed are vote-by-mail, absentee, and assisted telephone voting ballots.

“These ballots are counted about two weeks after election day,” a statement from Elections BC to NanaimoNewsNOW read. “Elections BC conducts additional integrity checks on these ballots to ensure that only eligible voters vote and that they only vote once.”

Elections BC added in their statement results in Ladysmith-Oceanside may “see additional small changes in the numbers reported at initial count as we conduct quality assurance and verification steps in preparation for final count.”

The final count for the 2026 Provincial Election is slated to take place between Nov. 6 and 10, with final results published immediately after.

Should the margin separating Higginson and McNichol be less than one-five hundredth of the total ballots cast, a judicial recount would be automatically called.

Based on 30,112 valid votes counted as of Monday in the riding, any margin of around 60 or less would trigger the review.

Judicial recounts begin seven days after the final count is confirmed by Elections BC, and must finish within 15 days.

Three judicial recounts were needed in the 2024 election, affecting Kelowna Centre, Surrey-Guildford, and Prince George-Mackenzie.

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by Alex Rawnsley