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B.C. local vote day overlaps provincial advance polls
In brief
British Columbians vote in general local elections on Saturday, October 17, the same day advance polls are open for the province's October 24 provincial election. Elections BC says this is the first time since it became an independent office in 1995 that the two kinds of election have overlapped like this, CBC News reported.
Two elections, two sets of polling stations
Saturday's local elections choose mayors, councillors, regional district directors, school trustees and some other local boards, according to Elections BC. Separately, provincial advance voting runs from October 16 to 21, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, and Final Voting Day is October 24 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific time. Voters will elect 93 members of the legislature.
Elections BC spokesperson Colleen Hildebrandt told CBC News the agency knows the overlap can be confusing. In a few places, a municipal polling station may be across the street from a provincial one, or in a separate room of the same building. Provincial sites will carry Elections BC signs and staff will be on hand to help.
Who can vote provincially
To vote in the provincial election you must be a Canadian citizen, 18 or older on October 24, and a B.C. resident since April 23, 2026, Elections BC says. Bring accepted ID, or have a registered voter vouch for you. Not every advance voting place is open every day, so check your Where to Vote card first.
Counting down to voting day? Use our countdown timer.
Why it matters
Early voting has become the norm in B.C.: more than one million early ballots were cast in the 2024 provincial election, 47.5 per cent of all votes, according to Elections BC figures cited by CBC. Mixing up the two polling sites could cost people a vote, and the B.C. Conservatives have pledged to stop such overlaps if elected.
Related free tools: Countdown Timer to a Date
Sources
- CBC News: Advance polls open in B.C.'s provincial election, creating rare overlap with municipal vote
- Elections BC: 2026 Provincial Election: Ways to Vote
- Elections BC: 2026 General Local Elections
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