Surrey city staff figure the October 17 general election will cost taxpayers about $3,448,004 and also projects there will be 352,148 registered voters, 123,252 ballots cast and a voter turnout of 35 per cent.

That’s the funding as set out in the City of Surrey’s 2026 corporate services department operating budget, including a five per cent contingency.

Joey Brar, Surrey’s general manager of corporate service, has a report coming before council on Monday indicating the city is “well positioned to deliver a legally compliant and positive election experience for voters.”

Surrey residents elect a new council and school board every four years. The last one, in 2022, saw 339,640 registered voters and recorded 118,908 ballots cast with a turnout of 34.5 per cent.

Brar said city hall typically begins election planning two years in advance “to provide adequate time to evaluate technologies, secure facilities and enhance processes.” This election is projected to see a 3.7 per cent increase in eligible voters over the last one.

“Based on growth and historical trends, turnout for 2026 is projected to remain consistent at approximately 35 per cent, with operational capacity in place to accommodate significantly higher volumes, if required,” Brar reports.

He noted that advance voting opportunities in 2022 were “well received,” with the turnout increasing by more than

60 per cent over the 2018 election. “Building on that success, the 2026 election will feature expanded advance voting options, including advance voting opportunities in each town centre to make voting more convenient and accessible,” Brar says.

There were 288 advance polling hours in 2022 across six locations and for 2026 this will increase to 480 across ten locations, making for a 67 per cent increase in advance voting hours.

“By expanding advance voting across more locations, residents will have greater flexibility to vote at a time and place that works for them. This expansion is expected to reduce the number of voters casting ballots on general voting day, helping to minimize wait times and create a better voting experience,” Brar explained.

The 2026 advance voting schedule is Wednesday, October 7, Saturday, October 10, Wednesday, October 14, and Thursday, October 15, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with advance polling locations at Kwantlen Park Secondary School (Whalley), Guildford Recreation Centre (Guildford), Fraser Heights Recreation Centre (Guildford), Fleetwood Community Centre (Fleetwood), Princess Margaret Secondary School (Newton), Frank Hurt Secondary School (Newton), Ecole Panorama Ridge Secondary School (Newton), Cloverdale Recreation Centre (Cloverdale), Semiahmoo Secondary School (South Surrey), and Earl Marriott Secondary School (South Surrey)

Eligible voters can also request a mail ballot up to a deadline to be determined by the chief election officer.

In the 2022 election, 1,961 voted by mail.

After the election, candidates must remove all election signage within 14 days. “Any signs not removed within that timeframe may be removed and disposed of by the City, with all related costs charged to the responsible party,” Brar noted.

There will be 52 voting locations throughout Surrey.

Meantime, on Monday council is expected to appoint a chief election officer and deputy chief election officer for the 2026 civic election, pursuant to the Local Government Act.

Brar recommends in a separate corporate report that lawyer Gib van Ert be appointed once again as chief election officer, at a cost of $150,000, and Michael Lyle Rothwell – a City of Surrey employee – be appointed deputy chief election officer.

Brar noted that van Ert is a partner at Olthuis van Ert, a Vancouver and Ottawa based barristers’ firm specializing in commercial litigation and public law, and is “a frequently cited authority on the application of international law in Canadian courts.

“From 2015 to 2018, Mr. van Ert served as the executive legal officer and principal advisor to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, where he assisted with the administration of the court, the Canadian Judicial Council, and the National Judicial Institute. Following this role, he returned to private practice in both Vancouver and Ottawa,” Brar noted.

“Mr. van Ert previously served as the City’s chief election officer for the 2022 general local election. His prior experience with Surrey’s election processes, combined with his extensive legal background, provides continuity, independence, and expertise appropriate for an election of Surrey’s size and complexity.”

Rothwell served as Surrey’s deputy chief election officer in the 2018 and 2022 civic elections.