Photo: Contributed

UPDATE 7:21 a.m.

Elections B-C says results of the Kelowna West byelection should begin flowing in after eight tonight, once the polls have closed -- and counting will continue until all advance and general voting ballots have been tallied.

Results of this byelection have the potential to further sharpen the razor-thin balance of power held by the Green party-backed minority New Democrat government.

Currently the New Democrats and Liberals each hold 41 seats, the Greens have three seats and there is one independent along with the Kelowna West vacancy in the 87 seat house.

Following tonight's preliminary count, Elections B-C says a final vote count, which will include any absentee ballots, is slated for February 27th.

ORIGINAL 4:58 a.m.

Voters will head to the polls in Kelowna West today, casting ballots to replace former B.C. premier Christy Clark.

Clark left politics last summer, quitting as the Liberal party leader and resigning her seat.

Five people are vying for the job, including B.C. Liberal Ben Stewart, who won the riding in the 2013 election, but bowed out to allow Clark to run after she lost the Vancouver-Point Grey riding to the New Democrats.

Shelley Cook, a former John Howard Society executive director, is running for the NDP, while the B.C. Green party has nominated Robert Stupka, an engineer and certified passive house designer.

Kyle Michael Ernest Geronazzo is representing the Libertarians and Mark Thompson is running under the Conservative banner.

Elections BC says over 6,000 people cast ballots in six days of advance voting.