A record one million voters cast early ballots in B.C. during the six days of advance polls ahead of the 2024 provincial election, and in the North Okanagan, advance voting was up nearly 50 per cent over the 2020 election. 

A total of 14,597 people cast early votes in the new Vernon-Lumby riding, according to Elections B.C.

That's a 47 per cent increase over the 9,923 votes that were cast during the advance voting period in Vernon-Monashee in the last provincial election. 

Vernon-Monashee saw just shy of 28,000 total votes in the 2020 election, meaning at the close of advance polling, Vernon-Lumby is already more than halfway towards exceeding the 2020 voter turnout in the North Okanagan's former riding.

Voter turnout in Vernon-Lumby was the highest on Wednesday, Oct. 16, the last day of advance polls being open, when 3,287 people cast their vote. 

The 91´ó»ÆѼ-Lake Country-Coldstream riding saw 14,470 early votes, while the Salmon Arm-Shuswap riding saw 14,189. 

Election Day is on Saturday, Oct. 19. In Vernon-Lumby, there will be 10 voting stations open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.:

• Clarence Fulton Secondary School, 2301 Fulton Rd., Vernon

• Community Baptist Church, 4911 Silver Star Rd., Vernon

• Grace Bible Church of Vernon, 5661 Silver Star Rd., Vernon

• Lakers Clubhouse, 7000 Cummins Rd., Vernon

• Schubert Centre, 3505 30th Ave., Vernon

• Vernon Japanese Cultural Centre, 4895 Bella Vista Rd., Vernon

• Vernon Rec Centre, 3310 37th Ave., Vernon

• Vernon Secondary School, 2100 15th St., Vernon

• Mabel Lake Community Hall, 111 Shuswap Falls Rd., Lumby

• White Valley Community Centre, 2250 Shields Ave., Lumby

The Morning Star will have election results as soon as they are available after 8 p.m. Saturday night. Check back for details.