Advance voting surges across Metro Vancouver ahead of municipal election

Vancouver has posted record turnout for advance voting ahead of Saturday’s municipal election, with more than 103,000 ballots cast — a 60 per cent increase from the number recorded during advance polls in 2022.

The city is among several municipalities reporting strong early turnout, with Richmond, Surrey, Langley Township and Kelowna also seeing significant increases.

Preliminary figures from Vancouver has 103,810 voters casting an early ballot in this year’s election, compared with 65,127 in 2022.

Vancouver saw steadily increasing numbers over the four-day advance voting period, with 21,824 ballots cast on Oct. 3, the first day of advance voting, followed by 25,142 on Oct. 7, then 27,748 on Oct. 10, and culminating Oct. 13 with 29,096.

The increase comes as the city expanded advance voting opportunities, from 22 voting places over five days in 2022 to 60 locations over four days this year.

The expansion comes with a higher price tag. Vancouver’s estimated budget for this year’s election is $9.4 million, more than double the 2022 cost of $4.41 million.

A city staff report identified one of the key cost drivers is the significant expansion of advance voting and other measures such as boosting staffing levels at voting locations, hiring security personnel, and increasing the number of laptops and tabulators. Two non-binding plebiscite questions added to the ballot by the ABC-dominated council is expected to add another $400,000 to $550,000.

Mail-in ballot requests have also more than doubled. Vancouver received more than 21,000 requests for mail-in ballots this year compared with 10,523 in 2022.

Voters returning mail-in ballots must ensure they are received by 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17. The city advised voters to use designated drop-off locations to ensure their ballots arrive in time to be counted.

Richmond recorded a 141 per cent increase in advance voting compared with 2022.

A total of 17,464 people cast ballots over five advance voting days on Oct. 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10, compared with 7,247 in the previous municipal election, according to the City of Richmond.

In Surrey, 26,009 ballots had been cast over the first two advance voting days, Oct. 7 and 10 — on track to surpass the total 35,713 people who voted in advance in Surrey over four days in 2022. Voters had additional opportunities to cast advance ballots on Oct. 14 and 15.

Surrey has also expanded its opportunities for advance voting, with 10 locations this year compared to six last year.

Langley Township reported a 38 per cent increase in advance ballots, with 9,876 ballots cast over five days compared to 7,128 in 2022.

Kelowna also reported an increase in early voting. Nearly 7,000 people cast ballots during the first two advance voting day compared with about 4,200 over the first two days in 2022.

“We’re encouraged by the turnout so far,” said Michael Jud, Kelowna’s chief election officer. “Local government has a direct impact on our everyday lives, and it’s important that everyone who is eligible takes the time to vote. With advance voting, residents can save time and vote when it works best for them.”

Whether the increase in advance voting translates into higher overall turnout will become clearer after general voting day on Saturday, Oct. 17, when polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In Vancouver, residents can vote at any of the city’s 85 voting locations, up from 80 locations in 2022. Two locations — Britannia Community Elementary School and Dunbar Community Centre — will also host advance voting for the provincial election, and could be busier than usual.

Vancouver’s overall voter turnout was 36.3 per cent in 2022.