Nanaimo Votes 2026: Voting by mail available for eligible electors

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed September 4, 2026 1:00 PM

Summary

Eligible voters who wish to vote in the 2026 General Local Election may choose to vote by mail ballot instead of voting in person. A person must meet all voting requirements for voting in a local election as a resident elector or as a non-resident property elector as of the date the mail ballot is completed and posted.

Applications to vote by mail can be obtained either in person from the Legislative Services Department at 455 Wallace Street, by email at elections@nanaimo.ca or by downloading the Application to Vote By Mail form from the City's website. Mail ballot packages will be mailed out or be available for pickup as soon as ballots are available in early October.

A mail ballot must be received by the Chief Election Officer before the close of voting (8 p.m.) on General Voting Day (Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026) in order to be counted for the election. It is the responsibility of the elector to post the mail ballot in sufficient time for delivery to the Legislative Services Department at City Hall by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026.

Arrange for the mail ballot to be hand delivered to the Presiding Election Official at the City of Nanaimo Service and Resource Centre, Voting Place, 411 Dunsmuir Street, Nanaimo, BC between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026.

For more information on the 2026 Local General Election, visit www.nanaimo.ca/elections.

Link to Strategic Plan: N/A

Key Points

Mail ballot applications are now available for eligible voters.
It is the responsibility of the elector to submit their completed ballot package to the Chief Election Officer by 4:30 pm Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 or to the Presiding Election Official at the Service and Resource Centre, 411 Dunsmuir Street, by 8 pm on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026.
Applications for mail-in voting may be submitted: in person, by mail (Legislative Services Department at 455 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5J6), by fax to 250-755-4435, or scanned and emailed to elections@nanaimo.ca.
Applications will not be accepted after 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026.

Quotes

"Voting by mail provides an extra option for eligible voters to cast their vote in the General Local Election. We encourage anyone considering voting by mail to apply early and to carefully review all deadlines to ensure their ballot is received on time so it can be counted."

Sheila Gurrie

Chief Election Officer and Corporate Officer

City of Nanaimo