City preliminary figures show about 21,824 people voted on the first day of advance voting in Vancouver’s 2026 civic election, a 196% increase over 2022.
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Vancouver’s civic election saw record turnout on the first day of advance voting on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, according to the City’s preliminary statistics.
About 21,824 people voted during that first advance voting day, which the City said represents a 196 per cent increase compared with the first advance voting day during the 2022 civic election.
The City attributed the jump in part to an expanded advance voting operation. While the number of advance voting days fell from five days in 2022 to four days in 2026, the number of voting locations available each day nearly tripled, from 22 to 59.
The City said voters can cast their ballots at any advance voting location.
The elections budget supporting the expanded voting operations has more than doubled, from $4.4 million for the 2022 civic election to $9.4 million for the 2026 civic election.
The City said the broader operation follows concerns raised about long queues during the April 2025 by-election and follows record demand for mail-in ballots.
On Oct. 1, the City reported more than 18,000 requests for ballot packages, surpassing the entire 2022 civic election total of 10,523 by more than 70 per cent.
Advance voting continues with three days remaining: Wednesday, Oct. 7; Saturday, Oct. 10; and Tuesday, Oct. 13. Eligible voters can vote at any of the 59 advance voting locations from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
General voting day is Saturday, Oct. 17, with 85 voting locations open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. As with advance voting, voters can cast their ballots at any location.
In Vancouver’s civic election, voters will choose a mayor, city councillors, Vancouver Park Board commissioners, and Vancouver School Board trustees, along with two plebiscites.
The ballot includes capital plan plebiscite questions on borrowing to fund new and upgraded facilities and infrastructure, as well as a separate non-binding public safety plebiscite seeking views on public hard-drug use and a proposed secure medical treatment facility for people with mental health and addiction issues.
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