B.C. votes for mayors and councillors before next week’s provincial election

It’s voting day in British Columbia, and voters who are confused may not be alone. Residents are choosing representatives for municipal councils, school boards and other regional posts, with 3,500 candidates across the province.

Advance voting in the provincial general election is also underway. It continues until Oct. 21, with election day set for Oct. 24. NDP Leader David Eby called the snap election two years early, during the planned municipal election period. Local and opposition politicians have denounced the decision.

The Union of B.C. Municipalities passed a resolution at its annual convention last month urging Eby not to call an election during the local campaign period. Days later, he launched the provincial vote. Cori Ramsay, who was the union’s president when the resolution passed, later said the overlap had confused voters and that local campaigns had lost staff to provincial candidates.

Even so, many cities and municipalities have reported higher or even record turnout at advance polls. They include Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, Kamloops, Surrey, Kelowna, Prince George, Cranbrook and View Royal.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2026.