Elections, AAP, Assent Voting

2026 Election

In British Columbia, general local government elections must take place every four years. This ensures consistent governance across all municipalities and regional districts.

The 2026 General Election will be held on October 17. By casting a ballot, eligible voters will elect the Mayor and six (6) Councillors who will represent the Town of Ladysmith, as well as School Trustees who will serve the local school district, for the next four years.

Voting Opportunities

The General Election takes place on October 17 at the Frank Jameson Community Centre from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Under the Local Government Act, the Town of Ladysmith is required to hold two Advance Voting opportunities. These will take place on October 7 and October 14 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm at City Hall.

Key Dates

Curious about the General Election timeline? Here’s a quick list of key dates so you don’t miss anything important.

* Date is subject to receipt of ballots from the printer.

Who Can Vote

You can vote in the 2026 General Election if you are either a resident elector or a non-resident property elector.

Resident Electors

To be eligible as a resident elector, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a Canadian citizen
• Be 18 years of age or older at the time of registration, or on General Voting Day
• Have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before registering to vote
• Be a resident of the Town of Ladysmith
• Not be disqualified from voting under the Local Government Act or any other applicable law

Voting in local elections is limited to Canadian citizens based on residency or property ownership. Permanent residents who are not yet Canadian citizens are not eligible to vote. There is also no voting rights for corporations or businesses in local government elections in British Columbia.

Non-Resident Property Electors

If you do not live in Ladysmith but own property in the Town, you may be eligible to vote as a Non-Resident Property Elector (NRPE). To qualify, you must:

• Be eligible to vote as a resident elector in another municipality or regional district in British Columbia (i.e., be a Canadian citizen, 18 years of age or older, a resident of British Columbia for at least six months, a resident of another local government in British Columbia, and not disqualified from voting)
• Have owned property in the Town of Ladysmith for at least 30 days immediately prior to registering to vote
• Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other applicable law

Only one Non-Resident Property Elector may vote per property, regardless of the number of owners. If there are multiple owners, the person voting must have written consent from a majority of the other property owners to vote on their behalf.

Register to Vote

If you have not yet registered to vote, you can do so through Elections BC’s website.

You can also complete the following actions on their website:

• Update your voter details, such as your residential or mailing address
• Enroll on the List of Future Voters if you are either 16 or 17 years of age

Mail Ballot Voting

Mail ballot voting is available to all eligible electors and may include options other than mailing your ballot, such as picking it up or dropping it off in person.

Mail ballots will be distributed in late September.

It is the responsibility of each elector to ensure their completed mail ballot is received by the Chief Election Officer before the close of voting at 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

More information regarding mail ballots will be available in the coming weeks.

Candidates

Individuals who wish to run for local government office in a general local election must meet specific eligibility requirements to be nominated.

Provincial legislation also sets out the rules governing election campaigns, campaign financing, and how candidates may promote their candidacy.

Thinking about running for local office? Potential candidate videos and additional information can be found on the Province's website.

Additional Resources and Forms

• Nomination Package (Will be available July 31st)
• FAQ
• Voter Registration (Resident) Form
• Non-Resident Property Elector (NRPE) Form
• Form 7-3 (Multiple Owners Consent Form)

Questions?

Do you have questions about the 2026 Election? Don't worry, we're here to help.

Contact us:

• Chief Election Officer: Sue Bouma
• Deputy Chief Election Officer: Hayley Young
• Email: vote@ladysmith.ca
• Phone: 250-245-6400