--- title: "Municipal election in British Columbia 2026: how to vote" url: "https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vote-municipal/british-columbia" description: "Vote in a municipal election in British Columbia: handled by your municipality. Election day: 17 October 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. From official sources." site: "Canada Service Map" author: "Mahmoud Halat" publisher: "Space & Story" lastReviewed: "2026-10-13" licence: "Built entirely from public data: open data and official government pages. Each record keeps the licence of its source, listed at https://canadaservicemap.ca/data." --- # Municipal election in British Columbia 2026: how to vote British Columbia ยท Voting and democracy Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked 13 October 2026. Not a government website. The official page always has the final word. ## Short answer B.C.'s general local elections are on Saturday, October 17, 2026. You can vote if you are 18 or older, a Canadian citizen, have lived in B.C. for at least six months, and live in the area or have owned property there for 30 days. Your local government runs the vote, sets the voting places and must offer at least one advance vote. Bring ID if you register when you vote. Handled by your municipality: each city, town and rural municipality in British Columbia runs its own. ## Who can apply - To vote where you live you must be 18 or older by voting day, a Canadian citizen, a B.C. resident for at least six months before you register, and a resident of that municipality or electoral area. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections/voting-local-elections/voter-eligibility), checked 13 October 2026. - If you live in one place and own property in another, you can also vote where the property is, once you have owned it for at least 30 days. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections/voting-local-elections/voter-eligibility), checked 13 October 2026. - When a property has several owners, only one of them can vote for it, and the majority of owners must name that person in writing. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections/voting-local-elections/voter-eligibility), checked 13 October 2026. - A student who studies away from home votes only once, either where they go to school or where they usually live. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections/voting-local-elections/voter-eligibility), checked 13 October 2026. ## Steps 1. Each local government picks how voters get on its list: registering at the voting place, using the provincial voters list, or keeping its own list. Ask your local government which one it uses. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections/voting-local-elections), checked 13 October 2026. ## What you need - You need ID when you register at the voting place. If your local government registered voters in advance and you are on its list, you do not need ID. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections/election-2026-faq-voting-day), checked 13 October 2026. ## How long it takes - The 2026 general local elections are on Saturday, October 17, 2026, for municipal councils, regional districts and other local bodies. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections/election-2026-faq-voting-day), checked 13 October 2026. - B.C. holds general local elections every four years on the third Saturday in October. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections), checked 13 October 2026. - Every local government must offer at least one advance voting day, 10 days before general voting day. Many offer more. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections/election-2026-faq-voting-day), checked 13 October 2026. ## Where to go - Your local Chief Election Officer sets the voting places. Check your local government's website, office, social media or its published election notices for times and locations. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections/election-2026-faq-voting-day), checked 13 October 2026. ## Good to know - Some local governments also let you vote by mail ballot. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections), checked 13 October 2026. - B.C.'s provincial election is a week later, on October 24, 2026. It is a separate vote from the local elections. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections/election-2026-faq-voting-day), checked 13 October 2026. ## Other provinces and territories - [Saskatchewan](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vote-municipal/saskatchewan): Election day: 9 November 2026 for rural municipalities (even-numbered divisions); 29 July 2028 for resort villages; 8 November 2028 for cities, towns and villages, and for rural reeves and odd-numbered divisions - [Manitoba](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vote-municipal/manitoba): Election day: 28 October 2026 for most municipalities; Victoria Beach, Dunnottar and Winnipeg Beach voted 24 July 2026 - [Ontario](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vote-municipal/ontario): Election day: 26 October 2026 - [New Brunswick](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vote-municipal/new-brunswick): Last held 11 May 2026 - [Prince Edward Island](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vote-municipal/prince-edward-island): Election day: 2 November 2026 - [Nunavut](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vote-municipal/nunavut): Election day: 25 October 2027 ## Questions people ask ### When is the B.C. municipal election in 2026? Saturday, October 17, 2026. The vote covers local governments, such as municipal councils and regional districts, and other local bodies. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections/election-2026-faq-voting-day), checked 13 October 2026. ### Do I need ID to vote in the B.C. local elections? Only if you register at the voting place. If you are already on your local government's voters list, ID is not required. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections/election-2026-faq-voting-day), checked 13 October 2026. ### Where do I vote in the B.C. local election? At a voting place set by your local Chief Election Officer. Your municipality or regional district lists them on its website and in its election notices. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections/election-2026-faq-voting-day), checked 13 October 2026. ### Can I vote in B.C. local elections without a fixed address? Yes. You register when you vote and show two pieces of ID, one with your signature. You can sign a declaration about where you live if you have no document for it. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections/election-2026-faq-voting-day), checked 13 October 2026. ### Do I get time off work to vote in a B.C. local election? No. Employers only have to give time off for provincial and federal elections. Local elections are held on a Saturday, with at least one advance vote. Source: [gov.bc.ca](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/governance-powers/general-local-elections/election-2026-faq-voting-day), checked 13 October 2026. ## Your city Handled by your municipality. The biggest cities: [Vancouver, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/vancouver), [Surrey, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/surrey), [Burnaby, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/burnaby), [Central Okanagan, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/central-okanagan), [Richmond, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/richmond), [Abbotsford, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/abbotsford), [Coquitlam, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/coquitlam), [Kelowna, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/kelowna), [Saanich, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/saanich), [Delta, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/delta), [Nanaimo, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/nanaimo), [Kamloops, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/kamloops), [Chilliwack, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/chilliwack), [Victoria, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/victoria), [Maple Ridge, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/maple-ridge), [New Westminster, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/new-westminster), [Prince George, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/prince-george), [Port Coquitlam, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/port-coquitlam), [North Vancouver, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/north-vancouver), [Langford, BC](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/british-columbia/langford). ## More - [Vote in a municipal election across Canada](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vote-municipal) - [Public services in British Columbia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/british-columbia) - [Vote in a federal election](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vote-federal) - [Find your Member of Parliament (MP)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/find-mp) - [Find your mayor and city councillor](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/find-councillor) - [Request government records (access to information)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/access-to-information) - [Vote in a provincial or territorial election](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vote-provincial) - [Find your member of the provincial or territorial legislature](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/find-mla) ## Cite this page Canada Service Map, "Municipal election in British Columbia 2026: how to vote", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vote-municipal/british-columbia