FAQs

Voting will take place at Echo Centre, 4255 Wallace Street. 

• Advance voting: Wednesday, October 7 and Wednesday, October 14, 2026
• General voting day: Saturday, October 17, 2026
• Voting hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on all voting days.

The voting place is wheelchair accessible. 

Curbside voting
At advance voting opportunities or on voting day, if you cannot enter the Voting Place because of a physical disability or impaired mobility:

• Call the Chief Election Officer at 250-735-6622 to request curbside voting.
• An election official will bring a ballot to you in your vehicle in the parking lot, wait while you mark the ballot, and then deposit the ballot into the vote counting unit in the Voting Place on your behalf. 

Marking your ballot
You can ask an election official, friend or relative to help you if you are unable to mark your own ballot. The Local Government Act requires the person assisting an elector to first sign a solemn declaration with the Chief Election Officer to commit to: preserving the secrecy of the ballot, marking the ballot as you instruct and not attempting to influence how you vote. 

Translation
Bring someone to assist if you require a translator. The translator will also need to sign a solemn declaration that they are able to make the translation and will do so to the best of their ability. 

NOTE: Candidates, their representatives and financial agents are not permitted to assist electors.

Voters will elect:

• One Mayor
• Six Councillors

• To vote as a resident elector, you must be a Canadian citizen, 18 or older by General Voting Day, a B.C. resident for at least six months, a resident of Port Alberni, and not disqualified from voting.
  
  
•  If you own property in Port Alberni but do not live here, you may be eligible to vote as a non-resident property elector. You must be a Canadian citizen, 18 or older by General Voting Day, a B.C. resident for at least six months, and a registered owner of property in Port Alberni for at least 30 days. If there is more than one owner, only one owner may vote and written consent from the majority of owners is required.

Yes. A person does not need to own property to vote as a resident elector.

No. Voting is for eligible individual electors only.

Possibly. They may qualify as a non-resident property elector if they meet the ownership and eligibility requirements. They must provide: 

• Proof of property ownership; and
• If applicable, written consent from a majority of the property owners.

The City of Port Alberni uses the Provincial List of Voters as the register of resident electors. 

Eligible voters who are not on the voters list may register in advance until: 

Tuesday, August 25, 2026 

Advance registration may be completed through: 

• City Hall, 4850 Argyle Street, Port Alberni; or
• Elections BC

After advance registration closes, eligible voters who are not on the voters list may still register at the voting place when they vote. They will be required to complete the necessary forms and provide identification as required under the Local Government Act.

Electors must provide two pieces of identification to register at the voting place. 

The identification must show:
• The elector’s identity; and
• The elector’s place of residence.

 At least one piece of identification must include the elector’s signature.
A combined B.C. Driver’s Licence and B.C. Services Card is considered one piece of identification, not two. 

Non-resident property electors must also provide: 

• Proof that they are the registered owner of property in Port Alberni; and
• If there is more than one registered owner, written consent from the majority of registered owners.

Mail ballot voting is available under City of Port Alberni Election and Assent Voting Bylaw No. 5150, 2026.

Information about applying for a mail ballot package, deadlines, and return requirements will be available on the City’s election webpage. 

Completed mail ballot packages must be received by the Chief Election Officer before: 

8:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2026  

• No campaigning within 100 metres of the Voting Place, including no displaying signs, ads, bumper stickers, posters, buttons, flyers or other material that advocates for or against a candidate. 
• No influencing voters within 100 metres of the Voting Place. 
• Only eligible electors are permitted in the Voting Place.   
• Voting is by a secret ballot – no talking about how you or someone else votes, no displaying your ballot and only one person per voting booth.
• No vote buying or intimidation. 
• No signing false statements or declarations. 
• It is unlawful to reproduce a ballot. Cameras, phones and other forms of technology are to be turned off PRIOR to entering the Voting Place.

Nomination documents may be filed from: 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026

Nomination packages will be available: 

• On the City’s election webpage; and
• From Election Headquarters at City Hall, 4850 Argyle Street beginning Friday, July 31, 2026 

Candidates are encouraged to call 250.720.2822 to make an appointment with the Chief Election Officer when submitting their nomination papers.

Candidates require at least ten qualified nominators under City of Port Alberni Election and Assent Voting Bylaw No. 5150, 2026.

Official notices will be posted on the City’s election webpage as they are issued. 

Preliminary results may be released after voting closes on General Voting Day. Official results will be declared on: 

Monday, October 19, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.  

and posted on the City’s election webpage.