The City of Richmond says its 2026 General Local and School Election will be held Saturday, Oct. 17, with early voter registration for resident electors open through Tuesday, Aug. 18.
The useful move is to check your registration status now. Early registration can speed up voting and get a voter card mailed out, while Richmond's elections page also points to voting-day registration rules and separate steps for non-resident property electors.
What Richmond voters should know
Richmond says voters will elect one mayor, eight councillors, and seven school board trustees.
Key dates from the city's election information:
- Aug. 18: Early registration through Elections BC closes for resident electors.
- Sept. 1 to 11: Nomination period for candidates.
- Sept. 15: Mail ballot online applications open.
- Oct. 3, 7, 8, 9, and 10: Advance voting dates.
- Oct. 17: General voting day.
Why registering early matters
Richmond says registering in advance helps make voting quicker and easier. The city says registered voters will receive a voter card in the mail with their voting place, which can help speed up the process when they vote.
The city also points voters to its online voters-list check. Residents who are not sure whether they are already registered should use that tool before assuming they are ready for October.
Missing the Aug. 18 early-registration date should not be read as the same thing as losing the right to vote. Richmond's elections page references registering on General Voting Day, and non-resident property electors have a separate advance-contact process with the Richmond Elections Office.
Voting options listed by the city
Richmond says eligible voters can vote at their designated voting place on general voting day. The city also lists advance voting over five dates.
The city lists several access options:
- Mail ballots: Online applications open Sept. 15.
- Curb-side voting: Available as an accessible voting option.
- Accessible ballot-marking device: Available at City Hall during advance voting.
- Designated voting place lookup: Richmond's election page includes a tool for finding where to vote.
What to do next
If you live in Richmond and expect to vote, check your registration status now and register early through Elections BC by Aug. 18 if that applies to you. If you are a non-resident property elector, or if you need a mail ballot or accessible voting support, use the city's election page before voting week so the option is not a last-minute scramble.
For candidate, voting-place, and eligibility details, start with Richmond's official election pages before making a voting plan.
