Advance voting in Vancouver: 3 days left, 59 voting places, 8am to 8pm

Vancouver's first advance voting day was Saturday, October 3. Three more remain before election day on October 17, with the same ballots, hours and ID rules as election day. This guide covers when and where to go, what to bring, and what the law says happens to an advance ballot once it is in the box.

The 3 days left

The City of Vancouver lists these advance voting days for 2026:

• Wednesday, October 7
• Saturday, October 10
• Tuesday, October 13

Every advance voting place is open from 8am to 8pm.

The hours come from the law. Section 69 of the Vancouver Charter requires at least 2 advance voting days, and says voting hours for them must be 8am to 8pm. One of the 2 must fall on the tenth day before general voting day. For an election on October 17, that is October 7. Section 70 lets Council add more advance days, which is how Vancouver has 4.

59 places, and you can use any of them

The City's 2026 voter's guide says advance voting takes place at any of 59 advance voting places. On election day there are 85.

The City's where to vote page says, "You can vote at any voting place." Its open data notes say Vancouver has used this vote anywhere model since 2014.

The number grew this year. In July, the City said advance voting would expand from 22 places in 2022 to 60 larger places. Its later pages, including the voter's guide and a September 18 news release, give the figure as 59. Our where to vote page lists every place, with a map.

One group has different rules. Voters in the UBC Lands and the University Endowment Lands can vote for school trustees only. They may use any of the 59 advance voting places, and also the UBC AMS Student Nest at 6133 University Blvd on October 7 and 13.

What to bring

If you are on the voters list, section 87 of the Charter says you sign a declaration that you are entitled to vote and have not voted before in this election. Then you sign the voting book with your name and address. Bring ID anyway, in case your record cannot be found.

If you are not on the list, you can register at the voting place. Section 30 of the Charter lets an eligible person register "immediately before voting". This works on advance days in the same way as on election day.

The City asks for 2 pieces of ID. Together they must show:

• your name, on both pieces,
• your address, on at least 1 piece, and
• your signature, on at least 1 piece.

To vote as a resident you must be 18 or older on October 17, be a Canadian citizen, have lived in BC for at least 6 months before the day you register, and live in Vancouver. The City sets no minimum time in the city itself. Our guide to registering at the voting place has the full list of documents, and explains one place where the City's wording and the law differ.

If you asked for a mail ballot

Check this before you go. The City's vote by mail page says: "If you apply for a Vote by Mail package, you will not be able to vote in-person during advance voting days or on election day."

If you have a package, complete it and return it. The City must receive it by 8pm on October 17, and a postmark does not count. The City's drop boxes at City Hall and at the Election Office are open 24 hours a day. The last day to ask for a package to pick up at the Election Office is October 13 at noon. Our vote by mail guide has the steps.

What is on the ballot

An advance voter gets the same ballots as an election day voter. The City's guide says you can vote for:

• 1 mayor
• 10 city councillors
• 7 Park Board commissioners
• 9 school trustees

The first ballot also carries 3 Capital Plan borrowing questions. A second ballot carries 2 plebiscite questions. You answer each question Yes or No, and you do not have to answer every one.

How advance ballots are kept and counted

The Vancouver Charter sets strict rules for ballots cast before election day.

Separate boxes. Section 80 says advance voting ballots must go into their own ballot boxes, apart from election day ballots, mail ballots and ballots from special voting in places such as hospitals. A box used for advance voting can be used again only for advance voting.

Sealed boxes. Section 83 says that before a box is used, the presiding election official checks it is empty and seals it in front of at least one witness. The official seals it again at the close of voting on each voting day. Candidate representatives may add their own seals. A sealed box must stay sealed and unopened until the ballots are counted, unless it is used again for the same type of voting.

Keeping them secure. Section 16 says the presiding election official must take all reasonable precautions to keep ballots and ballot boxes away from anyone who is not entitled to have them.

No early count. Section 95 says votes must not be counted until general voting closes, at 8pm on October 17. The count must then happen as soon as practicable.

Counted as a group. Section 99 lets officials combine ballots from different advance voting boxes, but advance ballots are counted apart from other kinds of ballots, with their own ballot account. If a combined box would hold fewer than 25 ballots, the official may mix them with another box so that nobody's vote can be traced. A box found with a broken seal is counted on its own (section 98).

The City's pages do not say where the sealed boxes are stored between voting days, so we have left that detail out.

Lines and waiting times

The City's 2026 election pages that we read show no live wait times at voting places. If the City adds them, they will be on its where to vote page.

What the City has said is that its 2026 plan is meant to reduce waiting times. Its July news release listed more than 2,200 election workers, up nearly 78 per cent from 2022, "to manage lines". It also listed more technology at every voting place for faster registration and ballot processing.

Four steps you can take:

1. Use the priority line if you need it. The City says a priority line is open to voters who have difficulty standing or waiting, including people with disabilities, older people, pregnant voters and people with young children. You do not need to explain why.
2. Have your ID in your hand when you reach the table.
3. Write down your candidates' numbers. Names are in random order, and each candidate has a number beside their name.
4. Choose any place. If one place is busy, you may walk to another.

Before you go

• Confirm the day: October 7, 10 or 13, from 8am to 8pm.
• Choose any of the 59 advance voting places.
• Bring 2 pieces of ID if you are not sure you are registered.
• Do not go if you have already applied for a mail ballot. Return the package instead.

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.