When are the municipal elections in B.C.? And other things to know

Not quite ready to vote? Here's what you need to know about the 2026 general local elections. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

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If you’re starting to notice an uptick in election news, you’re not just dreaming.

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The 2026 municipal elections are happening soon in B.C. and with the nomination deadline coming up this week, things are about to get busy.

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Here’s a regularly updated list of questions and answers you need to know before this fall’s general local elections:

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When are the municipal elections in B.C.?

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The municipal elections take place on Oct. 17, 2026, across B.C.

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Who’s running in my municipality?

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The deadline for candidates to put their name in for the municipal elections is Sept. 11, which means we won’t have a complete list of candidates until after that date.

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Elections B.C. maintains an updated list leading up to the deadline that names all the current candidates who have put their names forward. You can view that list here.

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When does the election campaign officially start?

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The campaign period officially begins on Sept. 19, 2026. That’s when you’ll likely see a lot of election activity start to ramp up.

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When can I vote? Is there advance voting possible?

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General voting day is on Oct. 17, 2026. Elections for each municipality are managed individually by local government so advance election dates are likely available but you’ll need to check with your local government to find out.

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How do I know if I’m registered to vote?

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If you’ve voted in recent years, chances are your name is already on the voter registration list maintained by Elections B.C.

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For the 2026 municipal elections, Elections B.C. has already provided the provincial voter to list to local governments so if you have concerns you’re not on the list or that you may need to update your registration in time for Oct. 17, contact your local government.

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Where are candidates allowed to put up election signs?

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The rules around where election signs are permitted are determined by local government and may differ from city to city.

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Election signs along roadways managed provincially will need to adhere to certain rules, such as distance from road, not obstructing other traffic signs, and what information must be identified.

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More to come …

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Do you have a municipal election question that you’d like answered here? Email us at [email protected] with the subject head “ELECTION FAQ 2026” and we’ll do our best to get you answer.

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