NDP takes lead in Coquitlam-Maillardville final count

There will be a judicial recount in the B.C. electoral district of Coquitlam-Maillardville after the final count of absentee ballots pushed the NDP candidate ahead by 35 votes.

On election night, Liberal Steve Kim beat the NDP's Selina Mae Robinson by 105 votes for the seat.

But when Elections B.C. started counting the absentee ballots collected at polling stations in other ridings on Monday, Robinson came out on top by a 35-vote margin by Tuesday morning.

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But since the margin was less than 0.2 per cent of the total ballots cast, equal to 43 votes in this case, a judicial recount overseen by a judge of all the ballots was automatically triggered. The date for the recount has yet to be set.

Saanich North and the Islands final count still underway

A total of nearly 180,000 absentee ballots that were cast across the province are being added to theelection night results during the final counts underway in Victoria this week.

In most cases the original results are being confirmed, such as Vancouver-Point Grey where NDP candidate David Ebyhas now secured a1,000-vote victory over Liberal Leader Christy Clark.

But in the closely fought riding of Saanich Northand the Islands the closest race in the provincethe final counting is just getting underway.

The winning NDP candidate Gary Holman appears to be increasing his lead over the Liberal candidate Stephen Roberts, but Green candidate Adam Olsen, who is currently in third place, also appears to be gaining ground.

Final counting is expected to wrap up tomorrow.

The B.C. Liberals won a surprise victory in the May 14 election, taking 50 of 85 seats over the NDP's 33, and the Green's one, according to the election night results.