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Editorial: Please cast your ballot in referendum on how we vote

Only two days are left to vote in a referendum that could have a profound effect on the future of British Columbia. During every election, the Times Colonist reminds readers to get out and vote — and this time it’s even more important than usual.
Sample proportional representation ballot

Only two days are left to vote in a referendum that could have a profound effect on the future of British Columbia. During every election, the Times Colonist reminds readers to get out and vote — and this time it’s even more important than usual.

Friday is the last day you can vote on the referendum to keep the first-past-the-post electoral system or change to a form of proportional representation.

The debate has raged for months, around dinner tables, in coffee shops, on street corners and in the pages of this newspaper. The huge volume of letters and op-eds we have received is a measure of how strongly people feel.

The more people who cast ballots, the more confidence we can have in the legitimacy of the result, so take the time to participate.

It is too late to mail in your ballot, but you can still drop it off in person.

Ballots can be dropped at any Service B.C. or Referendum Service Office. The deadline for Elections B.C. to receive ballots is Friday at 4:30 p.m. A list of drop-off locations is available on the Elections B.C. website at elections.bc.ca/rso.

In Victoria, there’s a Referendum Service Office at 100-1112 Fort St., open 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday. In Saanich, there’s a Service B.C. Office at 403-771 Vernon Ave. (Gateway Village), open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

No matter which side you support, make your vote count.