Vancouver advance voting surpasses all of 2022’s early turnout, with one day left

Preliminary City of Vancouver figures show 74,714 people voted during the first three advance-voting days in the 2026 civic election. That is 9,751 more than the 64,963 recorded across all five advance-voting days in 2022, an increase of about 15 per cent, with one advance-voting opportunity still to come. The three-day total is about 44 per cent of the 171,494 ballots cast in the entire 2022 civic election, including mail-in, advance and general voting day ballots.

A record 27,748 people voted on Saturday, Oct. 10, setting a new single-day advance-voting high for the third consecutive time. The previous records were 25,142 on Wednesday, Oct. 7, and 21,824 on Saturday, Oct. 3. Saturday’s turnout was about double the 13,856 people who voted on the third advance-voting day in 2022. Despite the higher participation, the City said voters continued to report getting through voting places quickly.

The final advance-voting day is Tuesday, Oct. 13. All 59 locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. General voting day, the final opportunity to vote in the 2026 civic election, is Saturday, Oct. 17, with 85 locations open during the same hours. The sharp turnout increase may be partly due to the City’s expansion of advance-voting opportunities. The number of advance-voting days has fallen from five in 2022 to four in 2026, but the number of locations available on each advance-voting day has nearly tripled, from 22 to 59. Voters may cast a ballot at any location during advance voting and on general voting day.

It remains unclear whether the snap provincial election has raised public awareness of both elections or whether the surge in advance voting will lead to higher overall civic-election turnout. Expanded advance-voting options may also simply be prompting people who would normally vote on general voting day to cast their ballots earlier.

Civic-election voters will choose a mayor, city councillors, Vancouver Park Board commissioners and Vancouver School Board trustees, and vote in two separate plebiscites. The capital-plan plebiscite asks about borrowing to fund new and upgraded facilities and infrastructure. A separate, non-binding public-safety plebiscite will seek voters’ views on public hard-drug use and a proposed secure medical treatment facility for people with mental-health and addiction issues.

The City’s elections budget has more than doubled, from $4.4 million for the 2022 civic election to $9.4 million for 2026, to support expanded voting opportunities, particularly advance voting. The increase is intended to improve voting operations and follows long queues during the April 2025 by-election.

The strong first-day advance-voting turnout also followed record demand for mail-in ballots. On Oct. 1, the City reported more than 18,000 requests for ballot packages, more than 70 per cent above the 10,523 recorded for the entire 2022 civic election.

Deadlines for mail-in ballots are approaching. Voters may request a package for pickup at the Election Office until noon on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The pickup deadline is noon on Friday, Oct. 16. Completed mail ballots must reach the City by 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, to be counted; a postmark before the deadline is not enough. Packages can be returned by mail or through designated drop boxes.

In the separate provincial election, voters will choose the MLA for their riding, helping determine which provincial political party forms government. Provincial general voting day is Saturday, Oct. 17, and advance voting runs over six days, from Friday, Oct. 16, to Wednesday, Oct. 21.