Elections BC looks into vote complaint in riding that gave NDP majority

By The Canadian Press on January 9, 2025.

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad holds a media availability following election results at the legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

VICTORIA – Elections BC says it is looking into a complaint of voting irregularities from a B.C. Conservative candidate in a riding narrowly won by the NDP, giving the government a one-seat majority in October’s provincial election.

It says the complaint was lodged by B.C. Conservative Honveer Singh Randhawa last Friday and it is “under review.”

Elections BC declared the NDP’s Garry Begg winner of the Surrey-Guildford riding by 22 votes over Randhawa after a judicial recount conducted by hand.

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad and Randhawa are scheduled to address a news conference this morning about “concerns emerging from the 2024 provincial election.”

Confirmation of victory for Premier David Eby’s party came nearly three weeks after election night on Oct. 19 when no majority could be declared.

Surrey-Guildford gave the NDP a bare majority with 47 seats in the 93-seat legislature, with the B.C. Conservatives winning 44 seats, and the Greens two.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 9, 2025.