Vote counting is underway in the 2026 B.C. provincial election, with voters in Nelson and across the Kootenay Central riding awaiting the results.
Polls closed at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, and election officials are now counting ballots to determine who will represent the riding in the B.C. legislature.
Four candidates are contesting the Kootenay Central seat:
- Brittny Anderson – BC NDP
- Nicole Charlwood – BC Green Party
- Hunter Corrigal – OneBC
- Gordon Skulnec – Conservative Party of BC
Our news team will continue to follow the results in Nelson and across the Kootenays throughout election night.
Stay with us on-air and online for the latest election coverage.
Update: 8:40 p.m.-Kootenay Central
Results for Kootenay Central are starting to trickle in, with 1,266 votes counted.
So far, Gordon Skulnec with the BC Conservatives is in the lead with 47.6 per cent of the vote. Incumbent New Democrat Brittny Anderson is trailing behind with 32.4 per cent of the vote, while Nicole Charlwood with the BC Greens has 14.7 per cent, and Hunter Corrigal with OneBC has 5.3 per cent.
Provincially, the conservatives are in the lead in 71 ridings, outpacing the NDP who are leading in 21.
Update: 8:45 p.m.-Kootenay Central
It’s shaping up to be a tight race in Kootenay Central, with BC Conservative Candidate Gordon Skulnec currently leading over the NDP’s Brittny Anderson by just 11 votes.
Skulnec has 506 votes, while Anderson has 455. BC Green Candidate Nicole Charlwood has 330 and Gordon Skulnec with OneBC has secured 89 votes, out of 1,785 votes counted.
Update: 8:50 p.m.-Kootenay Central
BC Conservative candidate Gordon Skulnec has held his lead over incumbent New Democrat Brittny Anderson.
Early results show Skulnec in the lead with 40 per cent of the vote, while Anderson has secured 36.9 per cent.
Nicole Charlwood with the BC Greens has secured 18.4 per cent of the vote so far, while OneBC’s Hunter Corrigal has received 4.7 per cent.
Update: 9:00 p.m.-Kootenay Central
Skulnec has held a nearly ten per cent lead over Anderson in the local polls, with 3,416 votes counted so far.
He currently has 43.3 per cent of the vote ahead of Anderson’s 33.9 per cent.
Charlwood now has 17.5 per cent of the vote, while Corrigal has just 5.3 per cent.
Update: 9:20 p.m.-Kootenay Central
A total of 7,462 votes have been counted in Kootenay Central so far, and near half of them have been in favour of Skulnec.
Skunlec now holds 48.2 per cent of the vote, while Anderson has 32.1 per cent. Charlwood has secured 14.2 per cent, while Corrigal has received 5.6 per cent.
Update: 9:30 p.m.-Kootenay Central
Skulnec’s lead over Anderson has narrowed, with 12,302 votes counted in Kootenay Central.
Skunlec now has 39.3 per cent of the vote compared to Anderson’s 38 per cent.
Charlwood has 18.5 per cent of the vote so far, and Corrigal has 4.2 per cent.
Update: 9:50 p.m.-Kootenay Central
It’s still a tight race in Kootenay Central, as Skunlec narrowly holds onto his one per cent lead over Anderson.
Anderson has secured 38 per cent of the vote, just behind Skulnec’s 39.2 per cent.
Update: 10:00 p.m.-Kootenay Central
Results from 50 out 74 polling stations have been counted in Kootenay Central, and Skulnec is still in the lede.
He’s secured 39 per cent of the vote, ahead of Brittny Anderson’s 37.5 per cent.
Nicole Charlwood with the Greens has secured 18 per cent of the vote so far, while Hunter Corrigal with OneBC has 4.2 per cent.
Update: 10:20 p.m.-Kootenay Central
Skulnec has held onto a 39.2 per cent lead in Kootenay Central for over an hour now, with 55 out of 74 polls reported.
Anderson, however, is trailing not far behind with 37.9 per cent of the vote. Charlwood now has 19 per cent, while Corrigal has 4.1 per cent.
Update: 10:40 p.m.-Kootenay Central
Things have taken a turn in Kootenay Central, with Brittny Anderson now in the lead.
Anderson has 39 per cent of the vote, ahead of Skulnec’s 37.7 per cent.
Charlwood has secured 19.4 per cent, while Corrigal has 3.9 per cent.
There’s just three polling stations left to report.
Update: 10:50 p.m.-Kootenay Central
Brittny Anderson has secured her third term as Kootenay Central MLA.
Anderson won her seat by a narrow margin, securing 39.6 per cent of the vote over Conservative Candidate Gordon Skulnec’s 37.1 per cent.
Green Party Candidate Nicole Charlwood received 19.6 per cent of the vote, and Hunter Corrigal received 3.8 per cent.
Results will be updated as they become available.
