VANCOUVER: About 21,824 people voted on the first day of advance voting in Vancouver’s civic election, a 196 per cent increase over the first advance day in 2022, according to preliminary City of Vancouver figures reported by Daily Hive on Oct. 5.
Voters in Canada’s third-largest city will choose a mayor, city councillors, park board commissioners and school board trustees on Saturday, Oct. 17. The city says nominations closed Sept. 11, with eight candidates for mayor, 56 for city councillor, 35 for park board commissioner and 32 for school board trustee. The city noted at the time that the candidate list could still change until Sept. 18, the deadline for nomination challenges and withdrawals, so readers should check the city’s candidate page for the current ballot.
Daily Hive described the first-day turnout as record numbers. The figures it cited are preliminary, and Canada News Media has not independently verified them. The first advance day was Saturday, Oct. 3.
Remaining advance voting dates
According to Daily Hive’s account of the city’s schedule, advance voting runs on four days in total: Oct. 3, Wednesday, Oct. 7, Saturday, Oct. 10 and Tuesday, Oct. 13. Each day runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 59 locations, and voters can use any of them. The Oct. 10 and Oct. 13 days remain open as of this report.
On election day, Oct. 17, Daily Hive reports that 85 locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting locations, eligibility and identification requirements are posted on the city’s voting page at vancouver.ca/vote. Canada News Media was unable to load that page for this report, so readers should confirm requirements there directly.
Mail-in ballots and cost
Daily Hive reported that, as of Oct. 1, the city had received more than 18,000 requests for mail ballot packages. It said that is more than 70 per cent above the 10,523 requests received for the entire 2022 election. The city’s deadline to apply for a mailed package was noon on Oct. 5, according to its election notice, so that option has closed for new requests.
The same report says the elections budget has grown from $4.4 million in 2022 to $9.4 million for 2026. It did not break down the increase, and Canada News Media has not seen the budget documents.
What is unclear
The city’s own turnout counts for the Oct. 7 advance day were not available when this report was prepared. Final turnout will not be known until after Oct. 17, and early voting totals do not by themselves show what overall turnout will be. Daily Hive also noted that British Columbia’s provincial general election is set for Saturday, Oct. 24, one week after the civic vote. Canada News Media has not confirmed that date with Elections BC.
Sources: City of Vancouver, candidates announced for 2026 election; Daily Hive, first day of advance voting.
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