A record number of voters cast their ballots in advance polls on the proposed events centre referendum, according to the City of Nanaimo.
Advance polls on March 1 and 8 brought out more than 4,000 voters, compared to the 2008 general election which saw 1,390; 2011 which saw 1,663; and 2014 general election which attracted 2,262 advance voters.
General voting takes place Saturday (March 11), from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at polling stations across the city. Preliminary results will be made available as soon as possible after polls close and can be viewed on the City of Nanaimo's website.
"By using voting tabulator machines, combined with software developed by the City of Nanaimo, the referendum results are normally available within the hour after the closing of the polls," said Sheila Gurrie, chief election officer for the City of Nanaimo. "What used to take hours can now be completed in minutes. If all goes well, results should be posted prior to 9 p.m. on Saturday night."
Official results will be declared no later than March 15 at 4 p.m.
For information on where to vote, please click here.