Mail ballot request deadline is noon Monday for Vancouver's October 17 election

The deadline to request a mail ballot package by phone or online is noon on Monday, October 5, 2026. After that, you can still request a package in person at a City of Vancouver office until noon on Tuesday, October 13. You can also pick up a package in person until noon on Friday, October 16. Completed ballots must be physically received at a City of Vancouver location by 8 p.m. on election day, October 17; a postmark alone is not enough.

To vote in Vancouver's 2026 civic election, you must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old on October 17, 2026, and have lived in British Columbia for at least six months before you register. You must also live in Vancouver; there is no minimum length of time you need to have lived in Vancouver specifically. Daily Hive Vancouver reported these requirements on October 3, 2026, citing the City of Vancouver.

Non-residents who are registered owners of property in Vancouver may be eligible to vote, according to Daily Hive Vancouver's October 3, 2026 report. The property must have been registered in their name for at least 30 days before the election. Only one owner per property can register. Non-resident property owners must still be Canadian citizens and at least 18 years old.

Registered voters should bring the Voter Information Card that was mailed in September 2026, which speeds up the check-in process. If you are not pre-registered and are registering at the polling place, you need two acceptable documents that together show your name, address, and signature. Acceptable documents include a BC driver's licence, Canadian passport, bank statement, and utility bills, including electronic versions on a phone. If you have only one piece of identification, you can make a solemn declaration confirming your identity and address.

Advance voting takes place on four days: Saturday October 3, Wednesday October 7, Saturday October 10, and Tuesday October 13. All four days run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. There are 59 advance voting locations across Vancouver and you can use any of them regardless of which neighbourhood you live in. Election day is Saturday, October 17, when 85 voting places are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Vancouver voters will elect one mayor, 10 city councillors, seven Park Board commissioners, and nine School Board trustees on October 17, 2026. The ballot also includes three yes-or-no questions on a capital plan involving $790 million in borrowing for community facilities and infrastructure, plus two non-binding advisory questions about drug use policy and a proposed secure medical facility for mental health and addictions care. Daily Hive Vancouver reported these details on October 3, 2026.

The City of Vancouver budgeted $9.4 million for the 2026 civic election, according to Daily Hive Vancouver's October 3, 2026 report. That is double the cost of the 2022 civic election. The City has not published a detailed breakdown of the increase in publicly available reporting.

Daily Hive Vancouver reported on October 3, 2026, that most Vancouver voting locations for the 2026 civic election offer priority lines, ballot marking assistance, and curbside voting for voters who need them. The City of Vancouver's election website has details on accessibility supports at specific locations. The where-to-vote page on this site also lists all advance voting and election day locations.