NDP candidate Steve Morissette is leading by a strong margin in the Kootenay-Monashee Riding in the B.C. Provincial Election.  

Votes are still being tallied, but as of 9:15 p.m. with 21 of 26 ballot boxes counted Morissette was leading by about 2500 votes with 52 per cent of the vote.

The riding has been an NDP stronghold for almost 20 years with Katrine Conroy representing the area in the B.C. Legislature since 2005. Conroy won approximately 60 per cent of the riding's votes in each of those elections. 

Election results won鈥檛 be finalized until after Oct. 26-28, when the final counting of votes is scheduled. 

There are 32,241 registered voters in the Kootenay-Monashee Riding and about 3.55 million in the province. 

According to Elections BC, 6,768 Kootenay-Monashee residents voted during the advance voting phase. That is approximately 21 per cent of the riding鈥檚 registered voters. 

This story will be updated as more election results are confirmed.