Elections

Eligible voters will cast their ballot to elect one (1) mayor, eight (8) councillors and seven (7) school trustees.

• General Voting Day: October 17
  
• Advance Voting: October 3, 7, 8, 9, 10

Voter Eligibility

You are eligible to vote in Richmond if you meet the following requirements as either a resident elector or a non-resident property elector.

Resident Elector 
You may vote as a resident elector if you:

• are a Canadian citizen
  
• are at least 18 years old on General Voting Day (October 17, 2026)
  
• are a resident of Richmond
  
• have lived in BC for at least six months before registering to vote (April 16, 2026 is the last day to meet residency requirement if registering on General Voting Day)
  
• are not disqualified from voting by law

Non-Resident Property Elector
You may vote as a non-resident property elector if you:

• are a Canadian citizen
  
• are at least 18 years old on General Voting Day (Saturday, October 17, 2026)
  
• are not a Richmond resident
  
• personally own a property in Richmond for at least 30 days before registering to vote (September 16, 2026 is the last day to meet local proper ownership requirement if registering on General Voting Day). Your property cannot be wholly or jointly owned by a corporation, business, or an organization.
  
• have lived in BC for at least six months before registering to vote (April 16, 2026 is the last day to meet residency requirement if registering on General Voting Day)
• are not disqualified from voting by law  
  
  

Register early to vote

Register as a Resident Elector
You can register in advance through Elections BC until August 18, 2026. 

Register as a Non-Resident Property Elector
You may register to vote in advance by contacting the Richmond Elections Office. You must re-register each election, as you will not be included in the Voters List (only resident electors).

You are required to make an appointment with the Richmond Elections Office before voting to have your forms checked which will make the voting process faster for you when you vote. 

Bring one of the following original documents: 

1. Proof of ownership, for example:

• Land Title Office Title Search
  
• City of Richmond Property Tax Notice
  
• BC Property Assessment Notice

2. Two pieces of ID that provide evidence of your identity and place of residence (at least one of which must include your signature).

To register to vote as a non-resident property elector, email elections@richmond.ca or call 604-276-4100. 

Future Voters
Youth ages 16-17 can register through Elections BC to be automatically added to the voters list when they turn 18.

Register when you vote

Bring two separate pieces of ID that together include your name and residential address. One piece must include your signature.

Examples of acceptable ID (not limited to these):

• BC Driver's Licence
  
• BC Identification card issued by ICBC
  
• BC Services card (includes both non-photo BC Services card or photo BC Services card)
  
• Owner’s Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence issued by ICBC
  
• BC CareCard or BC Gold CareCard
  
• Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction Request for Continued Assistance Form SDES8 (“Monthly Form EA181”)
  
• Social Insurance Number card 
  
• Canadian Citizenship card
  
• Property tax notice
  
• Credit card or debit card
  
• Utility bill (including electricity, natural gas, water, telephone services, cable services)
  
• Birth Certificate
  
• Canadian Passport
  
• A Certificate of Indian Status
  
• Old Age Security Identification card
  
• Canadian Forces Photo ID

You may change your name or address at the time of voting. Bring two pieces of ID when you go to the voting place.

Available resources for voters

• Voter’s Guide to Local Elections in B.C (English)
  
• Voter’s Guide to Local Elections in B.C (French)
  
• Voter’s Guide to Local Elections in B.C (Traditional Chinese) 
  
• Voter’s Guide to Local Elections in B.C (Simplified Chinese)
  
• Voter’s Guide to Local Elections in B.C (Punjabi)

Information on candidate nominations for the 2026 Richmond General Local Election will be released soon.

Potential Candidates

Mayor, Council and School Trustee Candidates
Learn about the role you will play and the impact you will have on your community as an elected official.

• Province of BC - Running for Local Office
  
• Thinking about Running for Local Office?
  
• Conduct of Locally-Elected Officials
• Roles and Responsibilities of Elected Officials

Elector Organizations
An elector organization is an organization that endorses or intends to endorse a candidate, or candidates, in general local elections and that files endorsement documents with the local Chief Election Officer. Elector organizations may be referred to as "civic political parties." 

• Elector Organizations and Endorsements

General Information

The 2026 Richmond Election will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026 to elect 1 Mayor, 8 Councillors and 6 School Board Trustees.

Key Dates

Elections BC Regulations

• Local Elections Campaign Financing Act
  
• Local Elections Campaign Financing Expense Limit Regulation 

Elections BC Guides and Forms 

Candidates

• Guide to Local Elections Campaign Financing in B.C for Candidates and their Financial Agents
  
• Disclosure Statement Forms for Candidates
  
• Financing Arrangement Forms and Instructions
• Campaign account letter for savings institutions

Elector Organizations

• Guide to Local Elections Campaign Financing in BC for Elector Organizations and their Financial Agents
  
• Disclosure Statement Forms for Elector Organizations
• Campaign Financing Arrangement Forms and Instructions

For more information, please contact Elections BC at 1-800-661-8683
or electoral.finance@elections.bc.ca. 

Third Party Sponsors

• Guide for Local Elections Third Party Sponsors in BC
  
• Third Party Sponsor Disclosure Statement Forms

Candidate Expense Limits
As outlined by Elections BC, all candidates in the 2026 local government elections, including all subsequent by-elections, have expense limits that apply during the campaign period (September 19, 2026 to October 17, 2026).

Each jurisdiction and office has its own limit, which is based on the population of the election area. These limits apply to the 2026 General Local Elections and all subsequent by-elections.
 
The candidate expense limits for the Richmond area are as follows:

You may also view the candidate expense limits on Election BC’s website.

Third Party Expense Limits
There are two types of expense limits for third party sponsors/advertisers: directed advertising expense limits and cumulative advertising expense limits.

Directed advertising expense limits apply to advertising about a specific candidate or elector organization.  The third party directed advertising expense limits for the Richmond area are as follows:

You may also view the candidate third party expense limits on Elections BC's website.

If you are a third party sponsor/advertiser and you are conducting “issue advertising” or if you are advertising in more than one jurisdiction, contact Elections BC for information about applicable expense limits and rules by calling 1-800-661-8683.

If you need information about how to complete the Statement of Disclosure in the candidate nomination package, visit the Province of BC's website. This website also contains a link to frequently asked questions about municipal official financial disclosure.

Elections BC contacts 
Contact Elections BC if you have questions about campaign financing, election advertising and third party sponsor rules.
Elections BC contacts for candidates and elector organizations:

Other resources for candidates

• Learn More about General Local Elections
  

• What Every Candidate Needs to Know

• Candidate's Guide to Local Elections in BC - Coming Soon

• General local elections participants
• Elections BC Resources and Key Dates

Accessible Voting

Accessible Ballot Marking Device

An accessible ballot-marking device is available at Richmond City Hall on advance voting dates (October 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10). This option will allow you to mark your ballot independently by using descriptive audio, touch screen, Braille, rocker paddle device, and sip and puff device.

Accessible Voting Options at All Voting Opportunities

•Request to have curb-side voting at the voting place. Please call the Elections Office at 604-276-4100 once you arrive at the voting place.
•Bring a family member to assist you with reading or marking your ballot at the voting booth. They must make a solemn declaration to faithfully and impartially assist you.

We strive to ensure that voting locations are accessible for people who use wheelchairs, walkers and mobility scooters; however, some locations are not fully accessible. We will ensure curb-side voting is well signed at locations that are not fully accessible.

Translation   
If you need help with translation, you may:
•Bring a family member from your household who will translate for you when you vote. They must make a solemn declaration to faithfully and impartially assist you.
•Use the translated voting instructions at your voting place, which will be provided in French, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Punjabi. Ballots are only available in English.

We are hiring more than 650 election workers for the Advanced Voting dates and the General Voting Day (October 17).

Roles available include:

Important Dates for Election Workers

• General Voting Day: October 17  
  
• Advance Voting Days: October 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 

Required for all positions:

• Not be actively working for any election campaign, elector organization or candidate
  
• Not be related to a candidate running for office in the 2026 General Local and School Election
  
• Be a non-partisan representative of the 2026 Richmond Election/City of Richmond and agree to maintain a non-partisan stance on the election, candidates and related activity while working at the voting location. This includes, but is not limited to digital (i.e. online and social media) presence
  
• Must work on General Voting Day
  
• Must attend all required in-person training sessions prior to Voting Day(s)
  

Information on candidate nominations for the 2026 Richmond General Local Election will be released soon. Please check back on updates on nomination process, candidate requirements and important dates and deadlines.

Available resources for candidates

• Learn More about General Local Elections
• Candidate's Guide to Local Elections in BC (2022)
• General local elections participants
• Elections BC Resources and Key Dates