Veteran political analyst Will McMartin is breaking down historic voting patterns across the province and in many of B.C.’s key ridings.

In a new feature running in The Tyee, Charting the Votes, McMartin yesterday graphed how vote splitting has benefitted Conservative Resource Minister Gary Lunn the past four elections in the Saanich-Gulf Islands riding. Many are assuming that the withdrawal from that race by NDP candidate Julian West will be enough to concentrate the moderate-to-left vote against Lunn, delivering a victory for Liberal Briony Penn. But McMartin says statistical history signals caution for Penn supporters.

Today McMartin looks at the province as a whole, noting that Liberal support across B.C. has not budged above 29 per cent in the last six elections – a level the Grits likely will fall well short of this time around.

Check The Tyee (and the Hook) daily for new Charting the Vote graphs and analysis from one of B.C.’s most respected political analysts. Or bookmark the series.

David Beers is editor of The Tyee.