School District 72 election error did not change outcome

Election officials in Campbell River have determined that a printing error during the School District 72 trustee election did not materially affect the final results. The error occurred during advance voting and affected mail-in ballots, where printed instructions incorrectly stated that voters could select up to seven candidates instead of the required maximum of five.

A total of 140 ballots were rejected because voters selected too many candidates. This included 109 ballots cast during advance voting before the error was identified, 12 ballots cast after verbal instructions were provided, and 19 mail-in ballots.

Officials noted that the margin between the fifth-place candidate, Daryl Hagen, and the sixth-place candidate, Rachel Balabuch, was 153 votes. Even if all rejected votes had been cast for the sixth-place candidate, the election outcome would have remained the same. The Strathcona Regional District stated that the error and the subsequent corrective measures will be reviewed to prevent similar issues in future elections.