Elections

When and Where can I vote?

Advance Voting Opportunities

Advance voting opportunities will be conducted on October 7 and 14 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at Colwood's City Hall which is located at 3300 Wishart Road, Colwood, BC.

General Voting Day

General voting will be conducted on Saturday October 17, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm in Council Chambers at Colwood's City Hall which is located at 3300 Wishart Road, Colwood, BC.

Do I need to show identification in order to vote?
It is recommended that you bring identification when you come to vote. Please note that the BC Elections Voters Guide for Municipal Elections (p.9) states: "Identification is not required when a jurisdiction uses a list of registered electors (voters list) and your name is on the list. You will be required to provide identification if your name is not on the list of registered electors at the time of voting..."

Who can vote in the election?

1. A Resident Elector

To vote as a resident elector, a person must:

• be 18 years of age or older on the day of registration, or if an election or assent vote is in progress, 18 years of age or older on General Voting Day;
• be a Canadian citizen;
• have been a resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration;
• be a resident of the City of Colwood on the day of registration; and
• not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, Vancouver Charter, School Act, or any other enactment from voting in an election or be otherwise disqualified by law.

2. A Non-Resident Property Elector

• When a person lives in one jurisdiction and owns property in one or more other jurisdictions, they may vote once in each of the other jurisdictions where they own property, as long as they meet the voter eligibility requirements. 
• If a person owns a property with one or more other individuals, only one person is eligible to vote as the non-resident property elector for that property. The owner entitled to vote must be designated in writing by the majority of the property owners.
• A person cannot vote on behalf of a corporation, or as a non-resident property elector, based on a property owned wholly or in part by a corporation.

How do I register to vote?

Resident Elector Registration

• The City of Colwood uses the Provincial Voters List as the register of resident electors.  The Provincial Voters List becomes the official list of electors for the City of Colwood on the 52nd day before general voting day,as established by the Local Government Act.
• If you are a RESIDENT ELECTOR and are uncertain whether you are on the Provincial Voters List, please contact Elections BC by phone at 1-800-661-8683 or by visiting their website and filling out the online voter registration form.  
• The last extraction of the Provincial Voters List prior to the October 17, 2026, general local election will be produced by Elections BC on July 15, 2026 so you must register prior to July 13, 2026, to ensure your name is included in the final register of electors. 
• If you are not registered in advance and you meet all of the elector eligibility requirements noted above, you may register at the time of voting by providing two pieces of acceptable identification.

Non-Resident Property Elector Registration

• The City of Colwood maintains a register of non-resident property electors.  This register becomes the official list of non-resident property electors for the City of Colwood on the 52nd day before general voting day.
• Advance non-resident property elector registrations will be accepted at The City of Colwood office until August 25, 2026.  Non-resident property elector registrations will not be accepted during the period from August 26, 2026 to October 17, 2026, but will be accepted on voting days.
• To register as a non-resident property elector, you are required to fill out the Registration Form and the Consent Form if there is more than one property owner. You must register by August 25, 2026 to ensure your name is included in the final register of electors. If you miss registering in advance of the August 25, 2026 deadline, and you meet all of the non-resident property elector voter requirements, you can still register at the time of voting.
• If you are a NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY ELECTOR and are uncertain whether you are on the register of non-resident property electors, please contact Heather Power, Deputy Chief Election Officer by phone: 250-478-5999, or by email: corporateservices@colwood.ca 

Are you eligible to run for office? 

A person may become a candidate in a local election as long as they have not been disqualified from seeking or holding elected office. 

To be eligible to run for Mayor or Councillor, a candidate must:

• be 18 years of age or older on general voting day
• be a Canadian citizen
• have been a resident of B.C for at least six months prior to filing nomination documents
• not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from being nominated for, being elected to or holding office, or be otherwise disqualified by law

(For additional guidance, candidates are encouraged to review the Handbook for Local Candidates published by the Province of British Columbia.)

Handbook for Local Candidates

Who May Nominate a Candidate?

Each candidate must be nominated by at least ten (10) eligible electors from the election area where the candidate is seeking to be elected. A nominator must be eligible to vote in the City of Colwood as a resident elector or as a non-resident property elector in order to nominate a candidate for office.

Nomination Period & Becoming a Candidates

The nomination period starts on September 1, 2026 at 8:30 am and ends Friday, September 11, 2026 at 4:00 pm. The nomination period is the only time during the election process when the Chief Election Officer can accept nomination documents.

A nominee officially becomes a candidate once their completed nomination documents are filled and accepted by the Chief Election Officer during the nomination period. 

Following the close of nominations, the Chief Election Officer publishes a Declaration of Candidates, confirming those who have been properly nominated.

Nomination Packages

Candidate Nomination packages will be available July 28, 2026, and can be picked up at Colwood City Hall during regular business hours until the nomination period ends.

Completed nomination documents must be submitted in person to the Chief Election Officer or the Deputy Chief Election Officer, unless other arrangements to submit them electronically has been approved by the Chief Election Officer. 

2026 Nomination Package for Mayor or Councillor [PDF/697KB]
2026 Reference Documents [PDF/8MB]

Challenging a Nomination

Nomination documents that are submitted by nominees are available for public inspection at Colwood City Hall during regular office hours from the time they have been submitted until 30 days after the election results have been declared. They will also be available for public inspection by way of the city website, with certain personal information redacted as required by law.

An eligible elector, another candidate or the local Chief Election Officer may challenge a nomination if they believe the nomination documents are incorrect or the person is not otherwise eligible to be nominated for office. Nomination challenges must be made through an application to the Provincial Court and be supported by an affidavit.

Election Signage Regulations

Political signs for candidates can be placed within the City of Colwood without a permit, subject to the City's Election Sign Bylaw No. 2038. 

The political signs must be removed within forty-eight (48) hours after general voting day, or they will be removed by a Bylaw Enforcement and stored at City Hall for a further thirty (30) days. Unclaimed signs may become the property of the City and may be disposed of without notice.  

City of Colwood Election Signs Bylaw

The placement of election signs on provincial highway rights‑of‑way is regulated by the Province of British Columbia.

Election Signs on Highway Rights-of-Way 

Campaign Financing Disclosure

Elections BC administers campaign financing, election advertising and elector organization registration under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act.

Campaign financing disclosure requirements promote transparency and accountability for campaign contributions and election expenses incurred during general local elections, by-elections, and assent voting events. 

Follow the hyperlink below to learn more about Elections BC and their role during general local elections:

Local Elections FAQs | Elections BC

Be part of a dedicated team supporting the delivery of Colwood’s municipal election.

Who can apply

You can apply to work in the election if you:

• are 18 years or older;
• are able to attend a mandatory election training on September 16, 2026 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm;
• are available on General Election Day and advance voting days;
• are physically able to work the full voting day (between 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.);
• are willing and able to remain on site at the voting location at all times, from the beginning of the shift until the end of the shift;
• are able to make a solemn declaration of impartiality and have no personal connection to any candidate

Key Dates

• Advance Voting Days 
  • Wednesday, October 7, 2026
  • Wednesday, October 14, 2026
• General Voting Day
  • Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 (election day)

Hours of Work

• Voting locations are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Shifts typically run from 7:00 a.m. to approximately 9:30 p.m.
• Hours vary by position.
• Election workers must be part of a strong team helping deliver Colwood’s municipal election.

Breaks are provided; however, workers cannot leave the property during their shift to protect the security and secrecy of the vote.

Bring the kids! We’re planning another fun Kids Vote for the upcoming municipal election! This is a great opportunity for young residents to get involved and learn a bit about how local government works in a hands-on way.

Just like their parents, kids have the opportunity to vote on advance voting days, October 7 and 14, as well as general voting day October 17.

While parents vote to elect one mayor, six councillors, and four school trustees, kids can vote for which cool new feature they’d like to see at the waterfront:

• public binoculars to zoom in on and learn about the marine life all around them, or
• a bird song player so they can match the sounds around them to the amazing array of migratory birds at the Lagoon.

Notices

• Declaration of Chief Election Officer [PDF/431KB]
• Declaration of Deputy Chief Election Officer [PDF/422KB]
• Notice of Advance Elector Registration and Availability of List of Registered Electors [PDF/289KB]
• Notice of Nomination [PDF/183KB]
• Declaration of Election by Voting - September 11, 2026 [PDF/24KB]
• Declaration of Election by Voting - September 21, 2026 [PDF/167KB]
• Notice of Election by Voting [PDF/154KB]

KEY DATES