A pre-hearing conference to determine the procedures and protocol that will be in place for the judicial recount of votes in the Kelowna-Centre riding was held in a B.C. Supreme Court courtroom in Kelowna on Nov. 1. 

After the final tabulations of the 2024 B.C. Provincial Election ballots revealed razor thin margins in the Kelowna-Centre and Surrey-Guildford, judicial recounts were applied for by an electoral officer from Elections BC. 

The recounts are conducted by the Court and are overseen by a Supreme Court Justice; in Kelowna-Centre, the process will be led by Justice Beames. The Court determines when and where judicial recounts take place and how they are conducted.

The function of a judicial recount is not only to confirm the vote but to confirm the integrity of the counting process.

According to the  website there were 25,747 ballots cast for Kelowna-Centre MLA candidates, 34 of which were not counted and were considered 'rejected ballots'.

Final counts showed a 38 vote difference between B.C. Conservative candidate Kristina Loewen, who secured 11,031 votes, and B.C. NDP candidate Loyal Wooldridge with 10,993.

The Elections Act requires an district electoral officer to make an application for a judicial recount in the Supreme Court if the difference between the top two candidates falls within 1/500 of the total ballots cast, as it does in Kelowna-Centre.

While certain details including the location of the recount are barred from publication under a court-ordered ban, Justice Beames confirmed that tabulations will take place in Kelowna on Nov. 7 and 8.

Further deliberations regarding details of the recount will take place between counsel for Loewen, Woolridge and Elections BC, and Justice Beames on Monday Nov. 4. 

The exact method that will be used for the judicial recount, and the number of counters, scrutineers and support staff allowed for both Wooldridge and Loewen will be decided at the hearing. The candidate's support staff will include data collectors, scrutineers, and legal council.

A key issue to be resolved at the hearing is whether or not media will be permitted to observe the judicial recount.

While Justice Beames was in support of select media being permitted, under strict guidelines, to observe and report on the judicial recount, she will hear arguments from counsel representing the BC Conservatives and the BC NDP before making a ruling.