Advance voting for B.C. election begins in Richmond

Advance voting for the B.C. provincial election began Friday morning, Oct. 16, in Richmond. Depending on where they live, some voters can vote at A.R. MacNeill Secondary School in the municipal election on Saturday, Oct. 17, then return to the same school Monday, Oct. 19, for provincial advance voting. The two elections are separate.

The snap provincial election was called Sept. 22 by BC NDP Leader David Eby, who cited an “existential moment” arising from the U.S.-Canada trade conflict. Election day is Saturday, Oct. 24. Voters will elect one member of the Legislative Assembly in one of Richmond’s four ridings: Richmond-Bridgeport, Richmond Centre, Richmond-Queensborough and Richmond-Steveston. Richmond’s municipal general voting day is Oct. 17, when residents will choose a mayor, city councillors and school trustees.

Voters may cast a provincial ballot at any advance voting place in B.C. To be eligible, a voter must be a Canadian citizen, be at least 18 on Oct. 24 and have been a B.C. resident since April 23. Everyone must prove their identity and residential address with government-issued identification. The list of accepted documents is at https://elections.bc.ca/2026-provincial-election/voter-id/. Voters without identification may have another person vouch for their identity. That person must be a registered voter who lives in the same electoral district, or the voter’s spouse, parent, grandparent, adult child, adult grandchild or adult sibling. A person authorized to make personal-care decisions for the voter may also vouch for them.

Advance voting places will display Elections B.C. signage and are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The locations and dates are:

Richmond-Bridgeport: Peace Mennonite Church, 11571 Daniels Rd., Saturday, Oct. 17, to Wednesday, Oct. 21; and Thompson Community Centre, 5151 Granville Ave., Friday, Oct. 16, to Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Richmond Centre: A.R. MacNeill Secondary School, 6611 No. 4 Rd., Monday, Oct. 19, to Wednesday, Oct. 21; and Richmond Secondary School, 7171 Minoru Blvd., Friday, Oct. 16, to Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Richmond-Queensborough: Bethany Baptist Church, 22680 Westminster Hwy.; H.J. Cambie Secondary School, 4151 Jacombs Rd.; and Thomas Kidd Elementary School, 10851 Shell Rd. All three are open Friday, Oct. 16, to Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Richmond-Steveston: Hugh Boyd Secondary School, 9200 No. 1 Rd., Monday, Oct. 19, to Wednesday, Oct. 21; John Diefenbaker Elementary School, 4511 Hermitage Dr., Friday, Oct. 16, to Sunday, Oct. 18; and Steveston-London Secondary School, 6600 Williams Rd., Monday, Oct. 19, to Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Voters who cannot attend advance voting must go to their assigned voting station on Oct. 24. They can also vote at their district electoral office until 4 p.m. that day. The office list is at https://elections.bc.ca/docs/2026-district-electoral-offices.pdf.