Maple Ridge urges voters to help boost turnout in local election

With just over a week until General Voting Day, Maple Ridge is encouraging residents to make a plan to vote and help increase turnout in the 2026 Local General Election. Voters will elect a mayor, six councillors and five school trustees, and vote on three assent questions about proposed long-term borrowing for Recreation Ready projects. Each ballot gives residents a say in decisions that will shape the community over the next four years.

The election began with 1,458 people voting on the first advance voting day, Oct. 7, and an increase in requests for mail ballots. By comparison, 1,002 voters cast ballots over the first two advance voting days in the 2022 election. A total of 14,491 ballots were cast in the 2022 municipal election, for turnout of about 21.87 per cent. That was lower than the approximately 33.5 per cent of eligible voters who participated in 2018.

Carolyn Mushata, director of legislative services and chief election officer, said local elections give residents a direct say in decisions that affect their daily lives and Maple Ridge’s future. She said the city is encouraged by the early turnout and hopes more residents will take advantage of the remaining voting opportunities.

Residents can vote in advance on Oct. 10, 14 and 15, or on General Voting Day, Saturday, Oct. 17. Advance voting hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on each date. On Oct. 10, voting is at Ridge Meadows Seniors Activity Centre, 12150 224 St. On Oct. 14, voters can go to Albion Community Centre, 24165 104 Ave., or St. Luke’s Hall, 20285 Dewdney Trunk Rd. On Oct. 15, voting is available at Albion Community Centre, St. Luke’s Hall or Fraserview Village Hall, 22610 116 Ave.

General Voting Day polling places will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 17: Whonnock Elementary School, 27471 112 Ave.; Garibaldi Secondary School, 24789 Dewdney Trunk Rd.; Albion Community Centre, 24165 104 Ave.; Yennadon Elementary School, 23347 128 Ave.; Thomas Haney Secondary School, 23000 116 Ave.; Ridge Meadows Seniors Activity Centre, 12150 224 St.; Laity View Elementary School, 21023 123 Ave.; and Hammond Elementary School, 11520 203 St.

Completed mail ballots must be received by the chief election officer by 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, to be counted. Voters should not rely on regular mail if their completed package may arrive after the deadline. Late mail ballots cannot be accepted.

People who own or rent a home can vote as resident electors if they are at least 18 on General Voting Day, are Canadian citizens, have lived in British Columbia for at least six months before registering, live in Maple Ridge and are not disqualified from voting by law. Maple Ridge is using the Provincial List of Voters for the 2026 Local General Election. Eligible residents who are not registered can register when they vote by providing two pieces of identification showing their name and residential address. People who live outside Maple Ridge but own property in the city may be eligible to vote as non-resident property electors.

Full election information, including candidate details, voting locations, eligibility and identification requirements, is available at MapleRidge.ca/GoVote (https://www.mapleridge.ca/your-government/municipal-elections) or by email at Election@MapleRidge.ca (mailto:Election@MapleRidge.ca). Information about voting locations, eligibility and mail ballot applications is also available at MapleRidge.ca/GoVote (http://mapleridge.ca/Elections) or by email at Election@MapleRidge.ca (mailto:Elections@MapleRidge.ca).