It appears Vancouver residents could soon vote in two elections in as many months.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to call for a federal election on Sunday, March 23. Canada's 45th vote could be as early as April 28.
But what's currently written in stone is that local eligible voters will head to the polls for the 2025 civic byelection within the next two weeks.
Advanced voting begins next week for Vancouverites aged 18 years and older to cast a ballot for two new city councillors.
Wednesday, March 26, is the first early voting opportunity. That same day, an all-candidates meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the West End Community Centre by the West End Community Centre Association.
The second and final advanced polling date is Tuesday, April 1.
Both will take place at city hall — located at 453 W 12th Ave — and polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The decision day for the byelection is April 5.
Who are the local candidates for the 2025 Canadian election?
Thirteen people are looking to win the two open seats on Vancouver city council (in alphabetical order):
- Theodore Abbott, TEAM
- Jeanifer Decena, Independent
- Guy Dubé, Independent
- Colleen Hardwick, TEAM
- Ralph Kaisers, ABC Vancouver
- Charles Ling, Independent
- Karin Litzcke, Independent
- Lucy Maloney, OneCity
- Gerry McGuire, Independent
- Sean Orr, Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE)
- Annette Reilly, Green Party
- Rollergirl, Independent
- Jaime Stein, ABC Vancouver
What you need to know
Eligible Vancouver residents must be registered to vote in the byelection.
To vote in any municipal election, you must:
- be at least 18 years old by election day
- be a Canadian citizen
- have lived in Vancouver for at least six months
- live in Vancouver or have owned Vancouver property for at least 30 days
- be allowed to legally vote (some people have been disqualified by law)
Residents of UBC and the University Endowment Lands are not eligible to vote.
If you voted in the October 2024 provincial election, you are already on Vancouver's voting list.
However, anyone who is not registered can do so during the electoral process.
Those who vote in person and need to register can do so at a polling station. Residents who choose to vote by mail can fill out a registration form online when applying.
Two pieces of ID are required to register when voting in person and must meet the following guidelines:
- both must show your name
- one must include your address
- one must include your signature
"You can make a solemn declaration to confirm your identity and residence," if you only have one piece of ID, according to the City of Vancouver.
What ID do I need to vote?
Acceptable pieces of identification, listed by the City of Vancouver, include:
- Band membership card or Certificate of Indian Status
- BC CareCard
- BC Driver’s Licence
- BC Identification Card (BCID)
- BC Services Card
- Canadian Citizenship Card
- Canadian Passport
- Debit or credit card
- Government cheque or cheque stub
- Old Age Security Identification Card
- Prescription medication containers
- Property tax assessment/notice
- Social Insurance Number Card
- Student card
- Utility bill
For more information, you can visit the City of Vancouver's byelection page.
With a file from The Canadian Press
