This year’s mail-in ballots have reached a record high.
Vancouverites will be heading to the ballots twice this October. But to ease the pain somewhat, they can cast their ballots by mail weeks ahead of the civic election in person, starting this weekend.
The City of Vancouver has received a record number of mail-in ballots, at more than 18,000, “an increase of more than 70 per cent over the 2022 Vancouver Election total of 10,523,” according to a press release.
In-person voting starts on Saturday (Oct. 3) at any of the 59 advance voting places, which are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Can’t make it out on Saturday? Vancouver offers three other early voting options:
Wednesday, Oct. 7,
Saturday, Oct. 10, and
Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Civic election day is Oct. 17, with 85 voting places open from 8 am to 8 pm.
Vancouver election: Am I eligible to vote?
To vote, as of Oct. 17, you must be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen, have lived in B.C. for at least six months immediately before registration day and live on a Vancouver property or have one registered in your name at least 30 days before the election.
You should have already received your Voter Information Card and should bring it to vote for faster processing. If you aren’t registered, you must bring two pieces of ID, with an address on at least one and a signature on at least one.
Acceptable ID examples are available in the online voters guide.
Voters can use Vancouver’s online guide to choose candidates, answer Capital Plan borrowing and plebiscite questions, and find voting locations with times.
Can I still vote by mail?
Everyone registered in the election can request to vote by mail. You have until Oct. 5 at noon to request the vote-by-mail package.
The deadline to request a ballot for pickup at the election office is Oct. 13. The office is located at 305 W 8th Ave.
Completed ballots must be received by Oct. 17.