General local elections calendar

Saturday, January 1

• Start of Election Period

  The election period for general local elections begins at the start of the calendar year (January 1) in which the general local elections will be held and ends at the start of the campaign period (28 days before general voting day). There are a number of recording, reporting and disclosure requirements that apply to candidates, elector organizations and third party advertisers during the election period.

  Local Elections Campaign Financing Act section 10(1)(a)(i)

Tuesday, March 8

• Candidate B.C. Residency Deadline

  Last day to meet six-month B.C. residency requirement for candidates within the nomination period (August 30 to September 9). A candidate must have been a resident of B.C. for at least six months immediately before being nominated. If you move to B.C. after this date, you will not be qualified as an elector on the last day of the nomination period, and therefore you will not be qualified to run for office.

  Local Government Act section 81(1)(c)

Thursday, April 14

• Elector Residency Deadline

  Last day to meet six-month B.C. residency requirement for resident and non-resident property electors registering on general voting day (October 15). You must have been a resident of B.C. for at least six months immediately before you register as a resident or non-resident property elector. If you move to B.C. after this date, you will not be qualified as an elector on general voting day, which is the last opportunity to register as an elector.

  If you move to B.C. shortly before this date, you may not be able to register or vote at an advance voting opportunity, depending on the precise dates of the move and the advance voting opportunity date.

  Local Government Act section 65(1)(c), section 66(1)(d) & section 67

Monday, July 4

• Election Bylaw Adoption Deadline

Last day for a local government to adopt its election bylaw if a new bylaw or amendments to its existing bylaw are required. A local government election bylaw is one that deals with authorized under Part 3 of the Local Government Act, including providing for mail ballot voting, use of the Provincial Voter's List, use of voting machines, advance voting opportunities, and regulation of election signs.

Changes or new provisions that are adopted by a municipal council or regional district board after this date do not apply to the 2022 general local elections.

Local Government Act section 56

Saturday, July 18

• Start of Pre-Campaign Period

The pre-campaign period begins on July 18 and ends September 16, with the start of the campaign period. During the pre-campaign period, election advertising, such as billboards or commercials, must include sponsorship information.

Local Elections Campaign Financing Act section 10(1.1)

Sunday, July 24

• Start of Period for Notice of End of Advance Elector Registration

First day for giving notice that advance elector registration will close on August 23. Advance elector registration is only available if the local government uses a list of registered electors. ​

Note: This date may be subject to change under the Interpretation Act.

Local Government Act section 71(5)

Sunday, July 31st 

• Start of Period for Notice of List of Registered Electors

First day for giving notice that:

• A copy of the list of registered electors is available for public inspection at the local government offices starting August 2 until the end of general voting (October 15)
• An elector may request that their personal information be omitted from or obscured on the list
• An objection to the registration of a person as an elector may be made between August 5 and 4:00 p.m. local time on October 15

Note: This date may be subject to change under the Interpretation Act.

Local Government Act section 77(6)

 

• Start of Period for Notice of Nominations

First day for giving notice of the nomination period. At least two notices must be published between July 31 and August 23.

Note: This date may be subject to change under the Interpretation Act.

Local Government Act section 85(1)

Tuesday,  August 2

• Election Bylaw Adoption Deadline – Board of Education

Last day for a board of education to adopt its election bylaw if a new bylaw or amendments to its existing bylaw are required. A board of education election bylaw is one that deals with any matter authorized under Part 4 of the School Act.

Changes or new provisions that are adopted by a board of education after this date do not apply to the 2022 general local elections. Visit the School Trustee Election Procedure webpage for further information.

School Act: section 45(6)

Tuesday, August 16

• End of Period for Notice of Close of Advance Elector Registration

Last day for notice of the closed period for advance elector registration.

Note: you can only register as an elector in advance if the local government uses a list of registered electors.

Local Government Act section 71(5)

Tuesday, August 23

• End of Period for Notice of Nominations

  Last day for giving second notice of the nomination period. At least two notices must be published between July 31 and August 23.

  Local Government Act section 85(1)

 

• End of Period for Notice of List of Registered Electors

Last day for giving notice that:

• A copy of the list of registered electors is available for public inspection at the local government offices until the end of general voting (October 15)
• An elector may request that their personal information be omitted from or obscured on the list
• An objection to the registration of a person as an elector may be made between July 31/August 2 and 4:00 p.m. local time on October 15

At least two notices must be published between July 31 and August 23.

Note: The list of electors and the opportunity for you to object to the registration of an elector are only available if the local government uses a list of registered electors.

Local Government Act section 85(1) & section 77(6)

 

• End of Advance Elector Registration

  Advance elector registration closes. If you wish to register as an elector for the 2022 general local elections after this date, you must do so at the time of voting.

Note: Some local governments do not provide advance registration – all electors in those jurisdictions register on the day of voting.

Local Government Act section 71(4)

Wednesday, August 24

• Adoption of Provincial Voters List

The Provincial Voters List becomes local government list of resident electors, if applicable. A local government can choose to use the Provincial Voters List, its own list of registered electors, or hold same day voter registration. The choice must be contained in the local government election bylaw adopted no later than July 4 in order to apply to the 2022 general local elections.

Local Government Act section 76

Tuesday, August 30

• Start of Nomination Period

Nomination period begins at 9:00 a.m. local time. Nominations are effective upon delivery to the chief election officer or a person designated by the chief election officer. You may inspect nomination documents from the time of their delivery until November 18.

Local Government Act section 84(1)

 

• Start of Challenge to Nomination and Endorsement Period

You may challenge a candidate’s nomination or their endorsement by an elector organization at any time between when the nomination documents were delivered and 4:00 p.m. local time on September 13.

Local Government Act section 91

 

• Start of Inspection of List of Registered Electors Period

You may inspect the list of electors at the local government offices during regular office hours starting on August 30 through the close of general voting day on October 15.

The list of electors and the opportunity for you to object to the registration of an elector are only available if the local government uses a list of registered electors to record advance elector registrations. Public inspection of the list of registered electors does not include entitlement to a copy of the list.

Local Government Act section 77(3)

 

• Start of Objections to Elector Registration Period

The period for objections to elector registration begins. You may make an objection to the registration of a person as an elector between August 30 and 4:00 p.m. local time on September 9.

Local Government Act section 79(2)

Monday, September 5

• Start of Period for Notice of Required Advance Voting

First day to give notice of required advance voting which must be held on October 5. At least two notices must be published between September 5 and September 28 of the required advance voting opportunity.

Note: This date may be subject to change under the Interpretation Act.

Local Government Act section 107(5)

Friday, September 9

• End of Nomination Period

Nomination period ends at 4:00 p.m. local time. Nomination documents may be delivered by hand, by mail or other delivery service or by facsimile or email transmission with originals to follow. If the original nomination documents delivered by facsimile transmission or email are not received by the chief election officer by the end of office hours on September 16, the person nominated is deemed to have withdrawn from being a candidate in the election.

Local Government Act section 84(1) & section 89(5)

 

• Declaration of Candidates

Following the end of the nomination period all nominees are declared candidates. If there are fewer candidates than positions to be elected, the nomination period is extended to September 12 at 4:00 p.m. local time, at which time all subsequent nominees are also declared candidates. Notice of the extension of nominations must be published if reasonably possible.

Local Government Act s. 97(1) & section 97(2)

 

• End of Period of Objections to Elector Registrations

Period of objections to elector registrations ends at 4:00 p.m. local time.

Note: the list of electors and the opportunity for you to object to the registration of an elector are only available if the local government uses a list of registered electors to record advance elector registrations.

Local Government Act section 79(2)

Monday, September 12

• End of Extended Nomination Period

Extended nomination period ends at 4:00 p.m. local time if the nomination period was extended due to insufficient candidates.

Local Government Act section 97(2)

Tuesday, September 13

• End of Challenge to Nomination and Endorsement Period

The period for you to challenge a candidate’s nomination or their endorsement by an elector organization through the courts ends at 4:00 p.m. local time.

Local Government Act section 91

Wednesday, September 14

• Non-resident Property Elector Ownership Deadline

Last day to buy real property to qualify as a non-resident property elector. You must have been an owner of real property within a jurisdiction for at least 30 days immediately before you register to vote as a non-resident property elector with that local government.

If you buy real property after this date you will not be qualified as a non-resident property elector as of general voting day (October 15), which is the last opportunity you can register as a non-resident property elector. If you buy property shortly before this date you may not be able to register or vote at an advance voting opportunity, depending on the precise dates of the purchase and the date of the advance voting opportunity.

Local Government Act section 65(1)(d) & section 66(1)(e)

Thursday, September 15

• Start of Period for Notice of Election

First day to publish notice of election. At least two notices must be published in the period between September 15 and October 8 for the general voting opportunity on October 15.

Local Government Act section 99(1)

Friday, September 16

• Finalization of Candidates

Deadline is 4:00 p.m. local time for:

• Court decision on challenge of nomination. If a nomination is challenged, the court can:
  • Confirm the person as a candidate or declare that the person is no longer a candidate;
  • Declare that the person is or is not entitled to have the usual name indicated in the nomination documents used on the ballot;
  • Declare that the election organization named in the nomination documents is or is not entitled to have its endorsement included on the ballot.
• Withdrawal of candidates. A candidate cannot withdraw after 4:00 p.m. local time on this date unless it is approved by the Minister responsible for the Local Government Act.
• Withdrawal of elector organization endorsement. An elector organization can withdraw its endorsement or a candidate can withdraw the request to have an elector organization endorsement appear on the ballot by delivering signed documents to the chief election officer.
• Deadline for receiving originals of faxed or emailed nomination documents at end of office hours.

Local Government Act section 91(9), section 95, section 101(1), and section 89(5)

 

• End of Pre-Campaign Period

The pre-campaign period ends September 16, 2022, with the start of the campaign period.

Local Elections Campaign Financing Act section 10

 

• End of Election Period

Election period ends.

Local Elections Campaign Financing Act section 10(1)

Saturday, September 17

• Start of Campaign Period

The campaign period starts on September 17, and ends when voting closes at 8:00 p.m. local time on October 15. During the campaign period, election advertising, such as billboards or commercials must include sponsorship information. Expense limits apply to candidates, elector organizations and third party advertisers during the campaign period.

Local Elections Campaign Financing Act section 10(2)

Monday, September 19

• Declaration of Election by Voting or Acclamation

Declaration of election by voting or acclamation, as applicable, at 4:00 p.m. local time. If there are more candidates for an office than there are to be elected for the office, the chief election officer must declare that an election by voting is to be held. If there are fewer candidates, the chief election officer must declare the candidate or candidates elected by acclamation.

Local Government Act section 98(2) & section 98(3)

Wednesday, September 28

• End of Period for Notice of Required Advance Voting

Last day to give notice of required advance voting which must be held on October 5. At least two notices must be published between September 5 and September 28.

Local Government Act section 107(5)

Wednesday, October 5

• Required Advance Voting Opportunity

Required advance voting opportunity from 8:00 a.m. local time to 8:00 p.m. local time in all jurisdictions. You may vote at an advance voting opportunity even if you will be present in the jurisdiction on general voting day (October 15).

Local Government Act section 107(1)

Saturday, October 8

• End of Period for Notice of Election

Last day to publish notice of election. At least two notices must be published between September 15 and October 8 for the general voting opportunity on October 15.

Local Government Act section 99(1)

Saturday, October 15

• General Voting Day

General voting day from 8:00 a.m. local time to 8:00 p.m. local time in all jurisdictions.

Local Government Act section 52

 

• Mail Ballot Voting

Mail ballots must be received by the chief election officer by 8:00 p.m. local time to be counted. Late mail ballots will not be considered, regardless of postmark or other proof of effort to deliver by this date and time.

Local Government Act section 110(9)

 

• Announcement of Preliminary Results

The chief election officer may announce the preliminary election results prior to the declaration of the official election results.

Local Government Act section 144(1)

 

• End of Period for Inspection of List of Electors

Public inspection of list of electors ends at 8:00 p.m. local time. The list of electors is only available if the local government uses a list of registered electors to record advance elector registrations. Public inspection of the list of registered electors does not include entitlement to a copy of the list.

Local Government Act section 77(3)

 

• End of Campaign Period

The campaign period in relation to an election ends at the close of voting on general voting day.

Local Elections Campaign Financing Act section 10(2)

Monday, October 17

• Start of Advance Registration for Next Election ​

Advance elector registration re-opens for a local government that chooses to use a list of registered electors.

Local Government Act section 71(4)​

Wednesday, October 19

• Last Day for Declaration of Official Election Results by Voting

Deadline to declare official election results is 4:00 p.m. local time. The chief election officer may make the declaration of official election results at any time in the period between the close of general voting (October 15) and this date and time.

Local Government Act section 146(1)

 

• Last day for Declaration of Official Election Results if by Acclamation

Last day to report official results of an election by acclamation. The chief election officer must submit a report of the election results to the local government within 30 days after the declaration of official election results by acclamation.

Local Government Act section 158(1)

 

• Start of Period to Apply for Judicial Recount

First day you may make an application for judicial recount to the Provincial court, if official election results declared on the last possible day. The time period during which an application may be made is limited to the time between the declaration of official election results and October 24.

Local Government Act section 148(3)

 

• Start of Public Inspection of Voting Day Materials

First day you may inspect voting day documents, if official election results declared on the last possible day. Records and other documents generated on voting day are available for public inspection from the time of the declaration of the official election results until 30 days after that date. If the official results are declared on the last possible day, these materials are available from October 19 to November 18.

Public inspection of these documents does not include entitlement to obtain copies. Before inspecting materials, you must sign a statement that you will not inspect the materials except for the purposes of the Local Government Act.

Local Government Act section 160(3)

 

Monday, October 24

• End of Period to Apply for Judicial Recount

Last day for applications for judicial recount to the Provincial court. The time period during which you can make an application is limited to the time between the declaration of official election results and nine days after the close of general voting.

Local Government Act section 148(3)

Tuesday, October 25

• Start of Period to Make Oath of Office

First day a candidate elected by voting may make oath of office. If an application for a judicial recount of an election is made to the Provincial court, a candidate declared elected in the election is not entitled to make the oath of office until the recount has been completed and the candidate's election has been confirmed, unless permitted by the Provincial court. The court may authorize a candidate who has been declared elected to make the oath of office if the court is satisfied that the candidate's election will not be affected by the results of the judicial recount.

Local Government Act section 147(1)

Friday, October 28

• Deadline for Completion of Judicial Recount

Deadline for completing judicial recounts.

Local Government Act section 149(1)

Saturday, October 29

• Start of Period to Hold Runoff Election

First day to hold runoff election if no bylaw in place to break a tie vote by lot. If at the completion of a judicial recount the results of the election cannot be declared because there is an equality of valid votes for two or more candidates, a runoff election must be held unless the local government adopted a bylaw before July 4 that allows the results to be decided by lot.

Local Government Act section 151 & section 152

Thursday, November 1

• Start of Period to Hold First Council Meeting

  First possible day to take office at first regular council meeting, as established in the municipality's procedure bylaw. Council must hold its first meeting in the first 10 days of November following general local elections.

  Community Charter section 124(2)(g)

Thursday, November 10

• End of Period to Hold First Council Meeting

  Last possible day that council can hold its first regular meeting following the general local election. Council must hold its first meeting in the first 10 days of November following general local elections.

  Community Charter section 124(2)(g)

Friday, November 18

• End of Period for Public Inspection of Nomination Documents

Last day you may inspect nomination documents, if official election results were declared on the last possible day.

Local Government Act section 89(7)

 

• End of Public Inspection of Voting Day Materials

Last day you may inspect voting day documents, if official election results were declared on the last possible day. Records and other documents generated on voting day materials are available for public inspection from the time of the declaration of the official election results until 30 days after that date. If the official results are declared on the last possible day, you may inspect these materials between October 19 and November 18.

Public inspection of these documents does not include entitlement to obtain copies. Before inspecting materials, you must sign a statement that you will not inspect the materials except for the purposes of the Local Government Act.

Local Government Act section 160(3)

 

• End of Period for Application to the Supreme Court to Invalidate Election

Last day for application to the Supreme Court to invalidate an election or determine the right of a candidate to take office. An application may be made to the Supreme Court by a candidate, the chief election officer, or at least four electors.

Local Government Act section 153(3)

 

• Last Day for Chief Election Officer to Submit Election Report

Last day for submitting report of results of election by voting to the local government if the declaration of the official election results by voting was made on the last possible day (October 19). The chief election officer must submit a report of the election results to the local government within 30 days after the declaration of official election results for an election by voting.

Local Government Act section 158(1)

Saturday, December 3

• End of Period to Make Oath of Office (by Voting)

Last day a person elected to a council, regional district board, or board of education by voting to make oath of office if the declaration of the official election results by voting was made on the last possible day (October 19). The oath may be taken any time between the declaration of official election results and December 3.

A person is disqualified from being nominated for, being elected to or holding office on a local government for failure to make the oath of office.

Local Government Act section 202(1)(a) & section 202(1)(b)
Community Charter section 120(1)(a) & section 120(1)(b)
School Act section 50(1)(b)

Sunday, December 4

• End of Period to Make Oath of Office (by Acclamation)   

Last day a person elected to a council, regional district board, or board of education by acclamation to make oath of office. The oath may be taken any time between the date set for general voting day and December 4.

A person is disqualified from being nominated for, being elected to or holding office on a local government for failure to make the oath of office.

Note: This date may be subject to change under the Interpretation Act.

Local Government Act section 202(1)(a)
Community Charter section 120(1)(a)
School Act section 50(1)(a)

Thursday, December 15

• Start of Period to Destroy Election Material

First possible day to destroy certain election materials if the declaration of the official election results by voting was made on the last possible day (October 19). Certain election materials such as ballots must be destroyed as soon as possible after eight weeks after the declaration of the official election results.

Local Government Act section 160(8)

Saturday, December 17

• End of Period for Runoff Election

Last possible day for runoff election if judicial recount completed on October 29.

Local Government Act section 152

Friday, January 13

• End of Period to File Disclosure Statement with Elections BC

  Deadline to file campaign financing disclosure statements by candidates, elector organizations and third party sponsors. A disclosure statement is required to be filed with Elections BC even if the candidate received no campaign contributions, incurred no election expenses, was acclaimed, died, withdrew from the election, or was declared by a court to no longer be a candidate.

  Local Elections Campaign Financing Act section 47(1), section 56 & section 90

Saturday, January 14 

• Start of Period for Late Filing of Disclosure Statement with Elections BC

  All outstanding disclosure statements (candidate, elector organization, third party sponsor) are subject to a $500 late filing fee if they are filed starting on this date. Late filing is allowed until February 13 if accompanied by the late filing fee.

  Local Elections Campaign Financing Act section 47(2) & section 56

Monday, February 19​

• End of Period for Late Filing of Disclosure Statement with Elections BC

  Last day for candidates, elector organizations and third party sponsors to file late disclosure statements along with a $500 late filing fee to Elections BC. A candidate, elector organization or third party sponsor may apply to the Supreme Court in advance of this date for relief from the obligation to file. Unless relief is granted, penalties are imposed.

  Local Elections Campaign Financing Act section 47(2) & section 56