Elections BC says it has not asked the RCMP to investigate complaints from the BC Conservatives about alleged “voting irregularities” in October’s provincial election, despite calls from the party to get police involved.
Andrew Watson, a spokesman for the electoral agency, says it has referred investigations to the RCMP in the past, but not in relation to the Conservatives’ concerns about Surrey-Guildford, where the NDP won by a razor-thin margin of 22. Vote
Watson says Elections BC is reviewing that race — which gave the NDP a one-seat majority — but has no timeline for when it will be completed.
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The Conservatives issued a news release Monday calling on the RCMP to investigate mail-in votes in Surrey-Guildford that were cast by residents of Argyll Lodge, a mental health and substance abuse facility.
RCMP Staff Sergeant Chris Clark says anyone with a complaint about Elections BC should report it to Elections BC, and refer questions about Surrey-Guildford to the Elections Agency.
Steve Cooner, the Conservatives’ critic for the attorney-general, says police should look into “potential offences” under the BC Elections Act related to 21 mail-in votes from lodge residents.
The party said last week it had identified 45 suspicious votes in the riding, including those from Argyll Lodge, as well as 22 by people who did not live in the riding, and one case of a voter who voted twice.
Conservative leader John Rustad said the party wanted a commission of inquiry into the vote in Surrey-Guildford.
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