2026 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTION KEY DATES

Acronyms:

a) CC – means Community Charter

b) LGA – means Local Government Act

c) LECFA – means Local Elections Campaign Financing Act

d) SA – means School Act

Start of Dates

• Start of Election Period LECFA: s.10(1)(a)(i) January 1, 2026
• Candidate B.C. Residency Deadline LGA: s.81(1)(c) March 10, 2026
• Elector Residency Deadline LGA: s.65(1)(c) & s.66(1)(d) April 16, 2026
• Election Bylaw Adoption Deadline LGA: s.56(2)(a) July 6, 2026
• Start of Pre-Campaign Period LECFA: s. 10(1.1)(a) July 20, 2026
• Start of Period for Notice of End of Advance Elector Registration LGA: s.50, 71(5) July 27, 2026
• Start of Period for Notice of List of Registered Electors LGA: s.77(6) August 4, 2026
• Start of Period for Notice of Nominations LGA: s.85(1) August 4, 2026
• Election Bylaw Adoption Deadline – Board of Education SA: s.45(6) August 4, 2026
• End of Period for Notice of Close of Advance Elector Registration LGA: s.71(5) August 18, 2026
• End of Period for Notice of Nominations LGA: s.85(1) August 25, 2026
• End of Period for Notice of List of Registered Electors LGA: s.85(1) & s.77(6) August 25, 2026
• End of Advance Elector Registration LGA: s.71(4) August 25, 2026
• Adoption of Provincial Voters List LGA: s.76 August 26, 2026
• Start of Nomination Period LGA: s.84(1) September 1, 2026
• Start of Challenge to Nomination and Endorsement Period LGA: s.91 September 1, 2026
• Start of Inspection of List of Registered Electors Period LGA: s.77(3) September 1, 2026
• Start of Objections to Elector Registration Period LGA: s.79(2) September 1, 2026
• Start of Period for Notice of Required Advance Voting LGA: s.107(5) September 8, 2026
• End of Nomination Period LGA: s.84(1) September 11, 2026
• Declaration of Candidates LGA: s.97(1) & s.97(2) September 11, 2026
• End of Period of Objections to Elector Registrations LGA: s.79(2) September 11, 2026
• End of Extended Nomination Period LGA: s.97(2) September 14, 2026
• End of Challenge to Nomination and Endorsement Period LGA: s.91 September 15, 2026
• Non-Resident Property Elector Local Ownership Deadline LGA: s.66(1)(e) September 16, 2026
• Start of Period for Notice of Election LGA: s.99(1) September 17, 2026
• Court Decision on Challenge of Nomination LGA: s.91(9) September 18, 2026
• Candidate Nomination Withdrawal Deadline LGA: s.101(1) September 18, 2026
• Elector Organization Endorsement Withdrawal Deadline LGA s. 95 September 18, 2026
• End of Pre-Campaign Period LECFA: s. 10(1.1)(b) September 18, 2026
• End of Election Period (12:00 Midnight) LECFA: s.10(1)(b) September 18, 2026
• Start of Campaign Period (12:01 am) LECFA: s.10(2) September 19, 2026
• Declaration of Election by Voting or Acclamation LGA: s.98(2) & s.98(3) September 21, 2026
• End of Period for Notice of Required Advance Voting LGA: s.107(5) September 30, 2026
• Required Advance Voting Opportunity LGA: s.107(1) October 7, 2026
• End of Period for Notice of Election LGA: s.99(1) October 9, 2026
• General Voting Day LGA: s.52 October 17, 2026
• Mail Ballot Voting Deadline LGA: s.110(9) October 17, 2026
• Announcement of Preliminary Election Results LGA: s.144(1) October 17, 2026
• End of Period for Inspection of List of Electors LGA: s.77(3) October 17, 2026
• End of Campaign Period LECFA: s.10(1) and (2) October 17, 2026
• Start of Advance Registration for Next Election LGA: s.71(4) October 19, 2026
• Last Day for Chief Election Officer to Submit Election Report (Acclamation) LGA: s.158(1) October 20, 2026
• Last Day for Declaration of Official Election Results by Voting LGA: s.146(1) October 21, 2026
• Start of Period to Apply for Judicial Recount LGA: s.148(3) October 21, 2026
• Start of Public Inspection of Voting Day Materials LGA: s.160(3) October 21, 2026
• End of Period to Apply for Judicial Recount LGA: s.148(3) October 26, 2026
• Start of Period to Make Oath of Office LGA: s.147(1) October 27, 2026
• Deadline for Completion of Judicial Recount LGA: s.149(1) October 30, 2026
• First Day to Hold Runoff Election LGA s.152(4) October 31, 2026
• Start of Period to Hold First Council Meeting CC: s.124(2)(g) November 1, 2026
• End of Period to Hold First Council Meeting CC: s.124(2)(g) November 10, 2026
• Last Day for Chief Election Officer to Submit Election Report (Voting)* LGA: s.158(1) November 19, 2026
• End of Period for Public Inspection of Nomination Documents* LGA: s.89(7) November 20, 2026
• End of Public Inspection of Voting Day Materials* LGA: s.160(3) November 20, 2026
• End of Period for Application to the Supreme Court to Invalidate Election* LGA: s.153(3) November 20 2026
• End of Period to Make Oath of Office (Voting* & Acclamation) LGA: s.202(1)(a) & (b); CC: s.120(1)(a) & (b) December 4, 2026
• Start of Period to Destroy Election Material* LGA: s.160(8) December 17, 2026
• End of Period for Runoff Election LGA: s.152(5) December 19, 2026
• End of Period to File Campaign Financing Disclosure Statement with Elections BC LECFA: s.47(1), s.56 & s.90 January 15, 2027
• Start of Period for Late Filing of Campaign Financing Disclosure Statement with Elections BC (with late filing fee) LECFA: s.47(2) & s.56 January 16, 2027
• End of Period for Late Filing of Campaign Financing Disclosure Statement with Elections BC (with late filing fee) LECFA: s.47(2) & s.56 February 16, 2027