Vote by mail: deadlines and how to apply
Every eligible Vancouver voter can vote by mail in 2026. The application window to have a package mailed to you closes Monday, October 5, 2026 at noon. After that, you can still request a package for pickup at the Election Office, up to Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
- Apply for a mailed package
- Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 9am to Monday, October 5, 2026, noon
- Request pickup at the Election Office
- By Tuesday, October 13, 2026, noon
- Last day to pick up a package
- Friday, October 16, 2026, noon
- Completed ballot received by
- Saturday, October 17, 2026, 8pm
How vote by mail works
- Apply
Apply online between Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 9am and Monday, October 5, 2026 at noon, using the City's Voter Registration Portal.
- Receive
The City mails your Vote by Mail package to the address on your application. Mail time is not guaranteed, so apply as early as you can.
- Mark and seal
Follow the instructions in the package exactly. A ballot returned in the wrong envelope, or without the signed declaration, cannot be counted.
- Return it
Your completed package must arrive by 8pm on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Postmarks do not count, so mailing it close to the deadline is risky. A drop box guarantees on-time arrival.
What happens after Monday, October 5, 2026
Once the mailed-package window closes, mail is no longer part of the process, but voting by a paper package still is. You can request a Vote by Mail package for pickup at the Election Office until Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at noon, and the last day to actually pick one up in person is Friday, October 16, 2026 at noon. From there, the return deadline is the same for everyone: 8pm on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
If picking up and returning a package in the final days feels risky, voting in person at any of Vancouver's voting places is always available through election day. See every Vancouver voting place for addresses, hours and advance voting days.
Questions about voting by mail
What is the deadline to apply for a Vancouver vote by mail package in 2026?
Vancouver's application window for a mailed Vote by Mail package runs from Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 9am to Monday, October 5, 2026 at noon. Apply through the City of Vancouver's Voter Registration Portal. After that window closes, a package can still be requested for pickup at the Election Office, not by mail.
What happens if I miss the October 5 mail application deadline?
Missing the Monday, October 5, 2026 noon deadline does not remove your option to vote by mail. You can still request a Vote by Mail package for pickup at the Election Office until Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at noon, and pick it up in person until Friday, October 16, 2026 at noon.
When must my completed Vancouver mail ballot be received?
A completed Vote by Mail package must be received by 8pm on Saturday, October 17, 2026, the same deadline as election day voting. The City states plainly that a postmark before that time does not count if the package arrives late, so a ballot mailed close to the deadline is at risk.
Can I drop off my Vancouver mail ballot instead of mailing it?
Yes. The City of Vancouver operates designated drop boxes that accept a completed Vote by Mail package, and using one removes the risk of postal delay. This matters most in the final days before Saturday, October 17, 2026, when a mailed envelope may not arrive in time.
Who can vote by mail in the 2026 Vancouver election?
Every eligible Vancouver voter can apply for a Vote by Mail package in 2026. Vote by mail is not restricted to voters who are away from the city, ill, or have a disability, unlike some past municipal elections. Anyone registered to vote in Vancouver can choose this method.
Do I need to be registered to vote before I apply for a mail ballot?
Yes. You need to be an eligible elector, meaning a Canadian citizen, 18 or older by election day, and a resident of Vancouver, and you can register at the same time as applying if you are not already on the voters list. The City's Voter Registration Portal checks and registers you as part of the application.
What if I applied to vote by mail but want to vote in person instead?
You can still vote in person at any voting place, on an advance voting day or on Saturday, October 17, 2026, even after requesting a Vote by Mail package, as long as you have not already returned a completed one. Bring the unused package with you if you have it, since election staff can void it at the voting place.
Is voche.me the official source for Vancouver vote by mail deadlines?
No. The City of Vancouver is the authority on voting deadlines. This page states the dates from the City's own vote-by-mail page as of September 23, 2026. If anything here disagrees with vancouver.ca, the City's own page is correct.
Where this comes from
Every date on this page comes from the City of Vancouver's own vote by mail page, checked September 23, 2026. voche.me is not the official source. If anything here disagrees with vancouver.ca, the City's own page is correct.
City of Vancouver: vote by mail