It’s civic election day across B.C., and Vancouver polls are open until 8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 17, is the main voting day for civic elections in communities across British Columbia. Voters across Metro Vancouver are choosing mayors, city councillors and school trustees. In the City of Vancouver, voters are also selecting Park Board commissioners. The results will shape decisions on housing, neighbourhood development, streets, parks, community and recreational facilities, public safety and other services affecting daily life.

All 85 City of Vancouver election-day voting places are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eligible voters may cast a ballot at any location, including one convenient to home, work or their Saturday plans. The City said voting places were busy in the morning but queues were moving efficiently. In its first update, issued just after 9 a.m., the City said: “After a busy first hour voting, lines moved quickly across the city! Most voting places across the city are now experiencing lower voter volume.” Anyone still in line when polls close at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

Vancouver voters are choosing one mayor, 10 city councillors, seven Park Board commissioners and nine school trustees. They will also answer three capital borrowing plebiscite questions and two non-binding public-safety questions. The borrowing questions seek approval for a combined $790 million for transportation infrastructure, community and civic facilities, and parks. The public-safety questions ask about strengthening City bylaws against public hard-drug use and asking the provincial government to create a secure medical facility, offering voluntary and involuntary care, at the former St. Paul’s Hospital or a similar site.

Voters can still register at a Vancouver voting place. They must bring two accepted pieces of identification, both showing their name; at least one must show their address and at least one must bear their signature. The City also offers a solemn declaration option for people with only one piece of identification. To vote in Vancouver, a person must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old on election day, have lived in B.C. for at least six months immediately before registration, and live in Vancouver. There is no minimum residency period within the city. Registered voters are encouraged to bring their voter information card to speed up processing.

The election day follows a record for advance voting turnout in Vancouver. Preliminary City figures show more than 103,000 people voted over four advance-voting days, compared with 65,127 advance ballots in the 2022 civic election. Anyone with a completed mail ballot must ensure it reaches the City by 8 p.m. today.

Two separate elections are underway. Saturday is the final voting day for the civic election, while advance voting for the provincial general election runs for six consecutive days, from Friday, Oct. 16, to Wednesday, Oct. 21. The provincial election’s main voting day is Saturday, Oct. 24. Voting in the provincial election does not count as voting in the civic election. The provincial vote determines the MLA for each provincial riding and helps determine which party forms the next provincial government.

Civic election results will begin appearing online after polls close at 8 p.m. Daily Hive Urbanized will provide full coverage.