(David Bellis)
Failed North Cowichan byelection candidate raises alarm over future of democracy
David Bellis says low voter turnout leaves the door open for ‘undesirable self-interest groups’ to control council
David Bellis, a failed candidate in North Cowichan’s April 12 municipal byelection, says the fact that the winner received just 7.5 per cent of the eligible vote is a warning sign for the future of democracy.
“Is there anyone out there who would describe this election (18% turnout) as democracy in action?” Bellis, a retired school teacher and administrator, said in a letter to sixmountains.ca and The Citizen. “From my perspective, what we have witnessed is a troubling slide toward an erosion of democracy.”
It is widely held that vote-splitting allowed right-of-centre candidate Becky Hogg to take the byelection with 2,029 votes — 67 more than the 1,962 votes recorded by left-of-centre candidate Joanna Lord.
Bellis, a self-described centrist, received 447 votes while Johanne Kemmler — “I am not far left, but I am more left than right” — received 387. Raymon Farmere took 41 votes.
Bellis argues there is more to the election results than just vote splitting. (Kemmler did not respond to a request for comment on the issue.)
Only 4,866 of 27,037 eligible voters — fewer than one-in-five — cast their ballots, he said. That means Hogg claimed victory based on only 7.5 per cent of eligible voters.
(Becky Hogg)
He argued there are serious implications for the democratic process.
“As a form of government, democracy is not guaranteed; it must be safeguarded, defended, and not taken for granted,” he said. “When turnout is so low, it leaves the door open for undesirable self-interest groups to infiltrate and slowly take control.”
He added: “We are facing a very dangerous crossroads here, and need to find the right path forward.”
Byelections typically receive a low voter turnout, but much was at stake this time around, said Bellis, citing issues such as the Official Community Plan, climate change, homelessness, affordable housing, and the Municipal Forest Reserve.
Among other recent byelections, Ladysmith had a turnout of 22.9 per cent March 1 for the mayor’s seat, compared with 15 per cent in Vancouver April 5 for two council seats.
The next full BC municipal election is just 1.5 years away, on Oct. 17, 2026.
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— Larry Pynn, April 26, 2025
