How to vote in the 2026 provincial election | Daily Hive

How to vote in the 2026 provincial election, including advance voting

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If you haven’t figured out how to vote in the provincial election, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

As residents across B.C. cities prepare for final voting day for municipal elections on Saturday, Oct. 17, advance voting for the 2026 provincial election begins on Oct. 16, and there are several ways to do so.

Bear in mind that registration for the 2026 provincial election is now closed, but you can still register in person.

To register, you need to be a Canadian citizen who is 18 years or older and has been a B.C. resident since April 23, 2026.

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Advance voting

Advance voting takes place between Oct. 16 and Oct. 21, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The option is open to all residents, and you can vote at any advance voting location. However, not every advance voting location is open for every day of the advance voting period.

Thankfully, Elections BC has a website with all the locations and opening hours for each one for the 2026 provincial election.

Voting by mail

For residents who are unable to make their way out to one of the various voting locations, they also have the option to vote by mail.

Elections BC says it’s a good option for people who are away during the advance voting period or on final voting day.

If you haven’t done so, you can request a vote-by-mail package on the Elections BC website or by calling 1-800-661-8683.

And don’t worry, it’s not too late if this is your only option. Your vote-by-mail package has to be received by Elections BC by Saturday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m., and the last day to request a package is Oct. 18.

“Completed packages can be returned by mail or dropped off at any district electoral office or voting place,” Elections BC adds.

Vote-by-mail packages come with step-by-step instructions.

Final voting day and voting at a district electoral office

Final voting day takes place on Saturday, Oct. 24, just one week after the municipal election.

You can cast your vote on that final voting day anytime between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

On final voting day, voters have an assigned voting place. You can see your voting place on the Elections BC website.

You can also vote at any district electoral office until 4 p.m. on final voting day.

General hours of operation for district electoral offices are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and on advance voting days from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

You can find a list of district electoral offices on the Elections BC website.

ID requirements for voting

In order to vote, you must be able to prove your identity, and there are a few ways you can do so.

Folks can quickly verify their identity at a voting place with any of the following pieces of ID:

A B.C. driver’s licence
A B.C. ID card
A B.C. services card
Another Government of B.C. issued card that includes a photo, name and address
Certificate of Indian status

If you don’t have any of those cards, you can bring two pieces of ID or documents, including:

A B.C. CareCard
A B.C. services card without a photo
A birth certificate
A Canadian Forces ID card
A citizenship certificate
A citizenship or membership card issued by a First Nation governing body in B.C.
A Correctional Service Canada offender ID card
A firearms possession and acquisition licence
A firearms possession only licence
A Métis Nation B.C. citizenship card
An old age security ID card
A passport
A SIN card
A Veterans Affairs Canada Health Care ID card

If you don’t have any of these options, Elections BC has additional options to confirm your identity on its website.

Additionally, Elections BC also has a full list of candidates running in the 2026 provincial election. For more information about how to vote in the upcoming provincial election, visit Elections BC.

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