Nearly a week after the big night, there is still no winner declared in the British Columbia election.

Elections BC says it must count 65,000 absentee and mail-in ballots as of Saturday, plus three riding recounts – two because it’s so close – and one for a possible counting error, which will not be probably not finished until Monday.

Digital tabulators produced faster results at night, but their absence in some precincts, the ability to vote outside your own precinct by mail, postal voting deadlines of up to 8 p.m. the election and a period of seven days before the vote. the final tally means British Columbians won’t know who their government is for more than a week after the big night.

“Elections BC’s system is very unique, but one of the great things about it is that it’s very accessible,” said Andrew Watson of Elections BC.

Digital meters, first deployed in British Columbia during a general election, have not gone smoothly. In Surrey-Cloverdale, a lost password stopped the process midway.

Frustration with the overall process, which is slower in British Columbia than in other provinces, could lead to changes.

“We will produce a full report from the Chief Electoral Officer looking at what went well, what could be improved and eventually the Chief Electoral Officer may make recommendations for legislative changes,” Watson said.

To add to the tension, this race was incredibly close, with the NDP seemingly holding the slimmest lead.

“The mathematical environment is such that this is the closest election in British Columbia history,” said David Black of Royal Roads University.

Among the recounts, the riding of Juan de Fuca-Malahat is the one with only 20 votes ahead of the NDP. Additionally, 10 additional seats could potentially change hands through mail-in and mail-in ballots.

“We have two parties practically tied in seats, practically tied in the popular vote,” said Hamish Telford, a political science professor at the University of the Fraser Valley.

The province is now waiting to see which one won.

Elections BC plans to announce the distribution of uncounted votes in each riding on Friday, ahead of the recount and final tally that will take place over the weekend.