Voting with a disability in Vancouver: curbside voting, helpers, ballot devices and home visits

Vancouver voters with a disability or limited mobility have several ways to vote in 2026. The City of Vancouver has set out a list of supports for 2026, and the Vancouver Charter guarantees several of them in law. This guide goes through each one, with the dates and phone numbers that still apply.

Today, Saturday, October 10, is an advance voting day. Two more remain: advance voting on Tuesday, October 13, and election day on Saturday, October 17. All voting places are open 8am to 8pm.

Step-free voting places

Section 73 of the Charter says voting places must be easily accessible to people who have a physical disability or impaired mobility, "so far as reasonably possible".

The City says all Vancouver voting places are accessible for wheelchairs, scooters, crutches and other mobility aids. It names one exception. St Paul's Anglican Church has limited wheelchair access, and voters who use wheelchairs vote in its upper landing area.

Our where to vote page lists every place, with the City's note on how to reach the voting room.

The priority line

The City says each voting place has a priority line for voters who may have difficulty standing or waiting because of health, mobility or other needs. That includes people with disabilities, older people, pregnant voters and people with young children.

You do not need to explain why you are using it.

Curbside voting

The City says curbside voting is available at most locations. It is for voters in a vehicle who cannot enter the voting place because of a disability or health concerns. An election worker helps you vote from your vehicle. Look for the curbside voting sign.

The right behind it is in section 94 of the Charter. A voter who comes to a voting place but cannot enter it because of a physical disability or impaired mobility may ask to vote at the nearest spot they can reach. An election official must then come to them to check their details, and must make sure the marked ballot goes into the ballot box in secret. The presiding official may pause voting inside for a short time to do this.

Help marking your ballot

Section 93 of the Charter covers voters who cannot mark a ballot because of a physical disability or difficulty reading or writing. You can be helped by:

• an election official, or
• a person you bring, someone you trust.

The helper must sign a written statement with their name and address and yours. A helper who is not an election official must also make a solemn declaration before the presiding official. A solemn declaration is a formal promise, made under oath or by affirmation. The helper promises to:

1. keep your vote secret,
2. mark the ballot the way you tell them, and
3. make no attempt to change your mind.

The helper goes with you to the voting booth, marks the ballot as you direct, and may fold it and put it in the box while you watch. Section 93(6) says the helper does not vote by helping you.

Candidates, candidate representatives and financial agents must not help anyone mark a ballot (section 93(5)).

Two smaller rules can matter. Section 92 lets a person who is in your care stay with you in the voting booth if the presiding official permits it. Section 21 says that if you cannot sign a form, an election official can sign for you, or you can make your own mark and the official witnesses it.

You can also ask any election official to explain how to mark the ballot. Our guide to marking the Vancouver ballot covers the marks that count.

Tools for voting on your own

The City lists these supports for voters who want to mark the ballot themselves:

• Magnifiers at all voting places.
• Your own tools, such as headphones for audio help or a phone app that reads the ballot.
• Assistive ballot marking devices, with sip-and-puff controls, paddle controls, audio, braille and large print displays.

The City has 5 of these devices this year, up from 2 in 2022, according to its July news release. The City lists where to find them:

• On voting days (October 10, 13 and 17 are left), 8am to 8pm, with no need to phone ahead: Dunbar Community Centre (4747 Dunbar St), Renfrew Park Community Centre (2929 East 22nd Ave), Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews) and Sunset Community Centre (6810 Main St).
• On weekdays until October 16, 9am to 4:30pm, at the Election Office, 305 West 8th Ave. Phone 604-829-2010 to plan your visit. The City says the office is closed on October 12.

Deaf, hard of hearing, blind or low vision

The City says American Sign Language support is available on demand at voting places, and election workers are trained to help voters who are Deaf or hard of hearing. You may also bring your own sign language interpreter.

For voters with vision loss, the City says its online Plan Your Vote tool has been reviewed and upgraded. Its voter information pamphlet is available in large print and braille. To ask for information in braille, phone the Election Office at 604-829-2010.

The City says guide dogs and service animals are welcome at every voting place.

For help in another language, the City says to phone 3-1-1, which offers interpretation in more than 240 languages.

If you cannot get to a voting place

Voting at home. The City says that if you cannot reach a voting place because of a physical disability, illness or injury, and you are eligible, an election worker can visit your home at a scheduled time to help you vote. Phone 604-673-8320.

Hospitals, care homes and shelters. From September 28 to October 15, the City says, mobile voting teams visit social service centres, shelters, hospitals and care facilities. These visits are for the residents, patients and regular clients of each location. The City posts the full schedule as a PDF on its voting accessibility page.

The law calls these special voting opportunities. Section 71 of the Charter lets Council set them up for voters who might otherwise be unable to vote, and limit who may use each one. At least one candidate representative is entitled to be present. Section 87 adds one step: at a special voting opportunity, you sign a declaration stating why you are entitled to vote there.

Mail ballots

The deadline to have a mail ballot package posted to you was October 5 at noon. The City says you can still:

• ask for a package to pick up at the Election Office until October 13 at noon, and
• collect it until October 16 at noon.

Your completed ballot must reach the City by 8pm on October 17. A postmark does not count. The drop boxes at City Hall and the Election Office are open 24 hours a day. The City notes that after hours the City Hall box can be reached only by stairs.

If you need help filling in the package, the City says to phone the Election Office at 604-829-2010. Once you apply for a package, you cannot vote in person. Our vote by mail guide has the steps.

If something goes wrong

The City has an online form to report a barrier you meet while voting, or to suggest changes for the next election. It is on the voting accessibility page.

The City of Vancouver runs this election, and the Vancouver Charter sets its rules. If anything here disagrees with vancouver.ca, the City's page is correct.