Close Alerts

Local Elections & Voting

2026 Local Election Information

Elections  |  Nominations  |  Electors  |  Voting Opportunities  |  Mail Ballot Voting

On October 17, 2026 all British Columbians will be heading to the polls to vote for municipal, regional district and school district candidates.

On this page you will find information on candidate eligibility, candidate nominations, local elections legislation and additional video resources.

If you are looking for general information regarding rules around campaigning, election financing, etc. please visit the Elections BC website.

Elections

Elections for positions on regional boards, municipal councils and school districts are held throughout the Province of B.C. every fourth year on the third Saturday in October.

By-elections are held as necessary to fill vacancies occurring from time to time.

Referenda & Other Voting

Voting may occur with respect to bylaw approvals or to seek the opinion of electors on a particular proposal.  Voting processes of this kind may be held at any time and may be restricted to a particular geographical area.

Thinking of Running for Local Office?

Serving your community as an elected official is an important public service and can be a rewarding way to contribute to local governance. Individuals choose to run for local office for many reasons, including a desire to participate in local decision-making, share their skills and experience, address community priorities, and help guide the future of their municipality or region.

If you are considering running for local office, it is important to understand the role and responsibilities of an elected official, how you can effectively represent your community, and the potential impact of your decisions. Taking the time to learn about these expectations can help you make an informed decision about candidacy.

The Province of British Columbia provides the resources below to assist prospective candidates. These materials offer practical information and guidance to help individuals better understand the nomination process, eligibility requirements, and the commitments involved before deciding to run for local office.

Local Elections Legislation

Election Financing

Elections BC administers campaign financing, disclosure and election advertising rules under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act. Elections BC does not administer voting or candidate nominations for local elections. For more information, see Who Does What in Local Elections.

Key 2026 Election Dates

  • Voter-registration deadline with Elections BC: August 18, 2026
  • Nomination period opens: September 1, 2026; closes: September 11, 2026
  • Campaign period begins: September 19, 2026
  • Advanced Voting Days: October 7, 2026, and October 15, 2026
  • General Voting Day: October 17, 2026

More details will be posted as they become available.

Nominations

More details will be posted as they become available. 

Voting Opportunities

GENERAL VOTING DAY

On general voting day, Saturday, October 17, 2026 polls will be open to qualified electors between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at various locations with the Strathcona Regional District

Qualified electors may vote at the polling location of their choice but may not vote more than once.

ADVANCE VOTING OPPORTUNITIES

Advance voting opportunities for electors of Electoral Area A (Kyuquot/Nootka-Sayward), Electoral Area B (Cortes Island), Electoral Area C (Discovery Islands-Mainland Inlets) and Electoral Area D (Oyster Bay–Buttle Lake)  are available as follows:

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Strathcona Regional District office, 990 Cedar Street, Campbell River, B.C.

Thursday, October 15, 2026 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Strathcona Regional District office, 990 Cedar Street, Campbell River, B.C.

Mail Ballot Voting

The SRD allows voting by mail ballot as an option for any qualified elector who prefers to use this form of voting instead of voting in-person at a polling station.

The mail ballot option includes several safeguards to ensure public confidence in the voting results including:

  • Applications for a mail ballot will be subject to the same documentary requirements for verifying elector identity and residence location as in-person voting.
  • All mail ballot applications will be accessible by scrutineers before a ballot is provided to the applicant. This will allow challenges of an elector’s right to vote in accordance with the Local Government Act.
  • Once a mail ballot has been provided to an elector, that elector will be disqualified from receiving a ballot at any other voting location.

In some circumstances, the use of the mail ballot option will also be extended to other types of voting such as referenda, assent voting and by-elections. Voters will still be able to vote in-person at any authorized polling station if they so choose.

Electors – Voting Eligibility

A person may be entitled to be registered as an elector and vote in local elections and other voting opportunities if they:

  • are a Canadian citizen;
  • will be at least 18 years of age at the time of voting;
  • have resided in BC for 6 consecutive months immediately prior to seeking registration as an elector;
  • have owned real property in the voting jurisdiction for 30 days prior to registration OR are a resident of the voting jurisdiction;
  • are not under sentence for an indictable offense or currently in custody or in prison;
  • have not been found guilty of an election offense;
  • have not been disqualified under the Local Government Act or any law in force in BC.

Non-Resident Property Electors

A person who owns real property in a voting jurisdiction but doesn’t reside there, may be eligible to register as a non-resident property elector and vote in that area.

If a property has more than one registered owner a majority of the owners must decide who is entitled to vote for that property.

Property which is registered in a corporate name cannot quality for elector registration or voting.

How to Register

The Regional District uses the Provincial List of Electors as the basis for its list of qualified electors.

Electors can register to vote at any voting opportunity if not already on the list of registered electors.  The deadline to be added to the list of registered electors in advance of the 2026 elections is August 18, 2026. Contact the Regional District for more information.

To register to vote or for more information on the Provincial Voters list, please visit Elections BC website.

 

  • Voters Guide (will be added when 2026 edition is available)
  • Electors Living on Reserve (will be added when 2026 edition is available)

Employment Opportunities

The Strathcona Regional District is inviting applications for the following election official positions:

  • Presiding Election Officials
  • Alternate Presiding Election Officials
  •  Election Officials

The above noted positions will supervise or assist with voting and ballot counting processes at assigned voting places for the General Local Elections and/or General School Elections being held in October.

To be considered for placement as an election official, individuals should have previous experience in federal, provincial or municipal elections. Successful candidates will be required to complete a training session and make an oath of office before taking up any election duties. Persons who have a financial interest or other interest in the outcome of the vote will not be considered.

More details will be posted as they become available.

For More Information

Please contact the Regional District at 250-830-6700 or by email administration@srd.ca.