By Spencer Sterritt

Referendum advanced voting breaks Nanaimo records

Mar 9, 2017 | 2:59 PM

NANAIMO — Defying expectations, more than 4,000 Nanaimo residents cast their ballots in the advanced polls for the upcoming event centre referendum.

Chief electoral officer Sheila Gurrie said there were 3,000 voters alone on Wednesday, March 8, which was the second of two advanced polls at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.

After the last vote on March 1, she’d expected another 1,000 votes.

“I had no idea it would triple in the amount. It was just amazing,” she said.

The high number of advanced votes significantly exceeds turnout in previous elections.

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In 2014, more than 2,200 people cast their ballots, up from 1,600 in 2011 and nearly 1,400 in 2008.

Gurrie said the turnout has “definitely” broken records. 

Despite the contentious nature of the referendum, Gurrie said the voting process went smoothly with little arguments.

Everyone who hasn’t voted yet will get their chance on Saturday, March 11.

A full list of voting locations and information can be found here.

spencer.sterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit