British Columbia will have a disproportionate role in picking the next leader of the official opposition, according to figures released by the federal New Democratic Party today.

While B.C. makes up 13 percent of the Canadian population, British Columbians hold 31 percent of the 131,152 memberships in the party. There are more members in B.C. than in any other province or territory in the country, including those with larger populations.

Those numbers are as follows:

British Columbia: 39,859

Ontario: 36,965

Quebec: 13,987

Manitoba: 11,991

Saskatchewan: 11,243

Alberta: 9,800

Nova Scotia: 3,904

Newfoundland: 974

New Brunswick: 946

Yukon: 747

Prince Edward Island: 262

Northwest Territories: 124

Nunavut: 24

Another 74 members are out of the country, and 252 are at an unknown or incomplete address.

Voting opened today and will be completed March 24. While Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen is the only British Columbian in the race, all leading candidates including Paul Dewar, Peggy Nash, Thomas Mulcair and Brian Topp have been frequent visitors to the province.

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Find him on Twitter or reach him here.