Vancouver records its busiest first day of advance voting in municipal election

Vancouver voters turned out in record numbers on Saturday, the first day of advance voting in the municipal election. A preliminary count showed 21,824 people cast ballots at polling places around the city, nearly 200 per cent more than on the first day of advance voting in 2022, a City of Vancouver spokesperson told CTV News by email. “Together, we achieved a new record for advance voting,” the statement said.

Advance voting is also available Oct. 7, 10 and 13, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The list of 59 locations is available online. The city has also said it received a record number of vote-by-mail requests by Oct. 1. An online statement said requests for vote-by-mail packages had topped 18,000, an increase of more than 70 per cent over the 10,523 received during the 2022 Vancouver election. More information about voting by mail is available online.

The city’s website describes the ballot as “long and complex.” It lists 130 candidates, and voters are asked to choose one mayor, 10 councillors, nine school board trustees and seven park board commissioners. Voters must also answer two plebiscite questions and several capital borrowing questions this year. Election day is Oct. 17.