Vancouver Votes Twice: Your Short Guide to Two October Elections
Vancouver votes Oct. 17 for mayor and council, then Oct. 24 in BC's snap election. Get candidates, key issues and voting dates in one handy guide.
Vancouver Election 2026
By Elke Porter | WBN News Vancouver | October 2, 2026
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Vancouverites will vote twice in October. The civic election is on Saturday, October 17, and the provincial election follows on Saturday, October 24.
October 17: Vancouver Civic Election
Voters will choose a mayor, 10 councillors, seven Park Board commissioners and nine school trustees. The ballot also includes three Capital Plan questions and two plebiscite questions.
The mayoral candidates are incumbent Ken Sim (ABC Vancouver), Colleen Hardwick (TEAM for a Livable Vancouver), Pete Fry (Green Party of Vancouver), Rebecca Bligh (Vote Vancouver), Muhammad Ahmad (Bright Future Vancouver) and Kareem Allam (Vancouver Liberals). Amauri Caliman and Scott Gilbert have no listed party.
The Azaroff and Allen withdrawals were intended to limit vote-splitting among progressive candidates. Fry won an informal agreement among the three main progressive parties to run a unified mayoral candidate on September 8.
Housing, safety and affordability are the dominant issues. About 55% of Vancouverites are renters, and a freeze on new supportive housing units has divided opinion.
On polling, the most recent published poll, by Justason Market Intelligence (August 31 to September 11), put Fry at 45% of decided voters, Sim at 30%, Hardwick at 11%, Allam at 10% and Bligh at 5%. Polls are snapshots, and this one has a modest sample.
How to vote:
With a record number of vote by mail requests submitted, thousands of Vancouver voters are showing their democratic spirit ahead of the 2026 Vancouver Election. In-person voting begins this Saturday, October 3, when advance voting opens.
Voters are encouraged to cast their ballot early at any of the 59 advance voting places, open from 8 am to 8 pm on:
- Saturday, October 3
- Wednesday, October 7
- Saturday, October 10
- Tuesday, October 13
Election Day is October 17, with 85 voting places open from 8 am to 8 pm.
Vote by mail requests at record high
Requests for vote by mail packages have reached more than 18,000, an increase of more than 70 per cent over the 2022 Vancouver Election total of 10,523.
The last day to request a vote by mail package to be mailed out is October 5 at noon. Voters can apply online, or registered voters can call 3-1-1.
After October 5, voters can still vote by mail by requesting to pick up a vote by mail package at the Election Office (305 West 8th Ave.) until October 13 at noon.
Completed ballots must be received by 8 pm on October 17. Voters who pick up their vote by mail package close to the return deadline are advised to use a drop box to ensure their ballots are received and counted. Drop box locations can be found online at vancouver.ca/VotebyMail.
October 24: BC Provincial Election
Premier David Eby called an early election, roughly two years ahead of schedule. He cited the trade war with the United States.
The party leaders are:
- BC NDP: David Eby. The NDP won a majority in 2024 by a single seat.
- BC Conservatives: Lorne Doerkson (interim). He was chosen after Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned following a four-month tenure marked by infighting.
- BC Greens: Emily Lowan.
- OneBC: Dallas Brodie (interim). The party is poised to gain official party status after MLA Brent Chapman joined its caucus.
- CentreBC: Elenore Sturko.
On polling, results vary by pollster. One poll had the Conservatives at 40% and the NDP at 39%. Another had the Conservatives at 39% and the NDP at 36%, with 28% undecided. Several polls were taken before the election was called. Locally, Alex McMillan is the Conservative candidate against Eby in Vancouver-Point Grey, and Carson Binda is running against Brodie in Vancouver-Quilchena.
For provincial voting dates and locations, check Elections BC. https://elections.bc.ca/
Before You Vote
The two elections cover different responsibilities. City hall handles local streets, zoning and housing approvals, parks, libraries, and fire and police services.
The province handles health care, education, and most housing and tax policy. Reading each candidate's platform and voting in both is the best way to make your voice count.
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TAGS: #VancouverElection #BCElection2026 #VanPoli #BCPoli #VoteVancouver #VoteBC
BONUS: Alex McMillan Bio: (directly competing with Premiere David Eby in the riding of Vancouver- Point Grey)
- Role: Alex McMillan is the Conservative Party of BC candidate for Vancouver-Point Grey.
- Background: He brings significant business experience to the Conservative Party of BC team.
- Principal at McMillan Solutions: A boutique public affairs firm, providing strategic counsel, communications and government relations services
- Education: Bachelor of Arts (BA), Political Science
- Personal Life: He lives in Vancouver with his wife and their two teenage daughters. Outside of work and family commitments, he enjoys cycling when weather permits.