Voters in Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge-Mission have several candidates to choose from Tuesday in both provincial ridings, occupied by Liberal incumbents the past term.
Marc Dalton has represented the latter the past two terms, while his party mate was the member to the west the past four years.
By all accounts, and judging by the number of visits Liberal and NDP party leaders made to the ridings during the campaign, both are sure to be close races.
For many voters, their decision will come down to partisan politics. Those people’s votes are already processed and counted within their respective parties.
For the rest – votes are up for grabs leading up to the polls.
An Ipsos Reid poll on Monday had the NDP ahead of the Liberals in the leadership race by a percentage point.
The vote among men and women was also a dead heat.
The pollster said it was too close to call, with the Greens at 17 per cent and another 16 per cent of respondents still undecided.
Winning close ridings will determine the overall winner, according to Ipsos Reid.
Some people vote for party platforms, and others against them. And others vote for candidates or leaders.
There is no right way. And we would never tell you who to vote for.
That is up to you.
Our role is to inform you, and offer a platform for debate – a voice.
Your voice in Victoria depends on who you elect. Even then, that doesn’t mean the elected individual will necessarily heed your advice.
It would be foolish to assume any elected official can appease all. But we hope those who are elected will do more than simply parrot the party line.
That being said, being an elected official is no easy job.
So to those who have served or are about to, for the first time or again, thank you.
– Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News