179,380 absentee ballots will be counted and all totals checked starting today.

Elections B.C. will begin its crucial “final count” process on Victoria Day. Normally, it’s a process that attracts little attention. But with no party winning a clear majority in the May 9 election, and several close races decided by only a handful of votes, the next government will likely be decided by the outcome.

In Courtenay-Comox (where the NDP won by nine votes) and Vancouver False-Creek ( the Liberals won by 560 votes).  These are the two areas getting recounts. The independent elections agency previously rejected recount requests in four other ridings.

The district electoral officer in each of the 87 ridings will then start tallying the ballots not counted May 9. .

The entire process could take until Wednesday