2026 Election: Advance Voting Begins October 7

Advance voting for the District of Sooke’s 2026 General Local Election begins Wednesday, October 7. 

Eligible electors do not need a special reason to vote in advance and may attend any advance voting opportunity. Residents are encouraged to choose the date that works best for them, review what will appear on the ballot and confirm they have the identification or supporting documents they may need. 

Trustees for School District 62’s Sooke—Milne’s Landing Zone have been acclaimed and will therefore not appear on the ballot.

Voting opportunities 

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
Sooke Municipal Hall Council Chamber 
Parking at 2205 Otter Point Road 

Saturday, October 10, 2026 
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
Edward Milne Community School 
6218 Sooke Road 

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
Sooke Municipal Hall Council Chamber 
Parking at 2205 Otter Point Road 

General Voting Day — Saturday, October 17, 2026 
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
Edward Milne Community School 
6218 Sooke Road 

A special voting opportunity will also be held at Ayre Manor on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. This opportunity is available only to eligible assisted-living and complex-care residents of Ayre Manor. 

Curbside voting will be available for electors who can travel to a voting place but are unable to enter the building. Electors requiring curbside voting should notify an election official upon arrival or have someone request assistance at the entrance. 

What will appear on the ballot? 

Electors will be invited to vote for:

• One Mayor 
• Up to six Councillors  

The ballot will also include a non-binding opinion question asking whether the District should consider borrowing up to a maximum of $5 million to support construction and initial operational start-up of the proposed Sooke Gathering Place intergenerational centre on District-owned property at 6671 Wadams Way. 

The opinion question will not authorize borrowing, approve construction, approve a tax increase or commit the property to the project. The result will help inform future Council consideration.  

Electors may vote for fewer candidates than the maximum permitted for an office but must not vote for more. They may also choose to vote on some parts of the ballot and leave others blank. 

Who can vote? 

To vote as a resident elector, a person must:

• Be 18 years of age or older when registering, or turn 18 by General Voting Day 
• Be a Canadian citizen 
• Have lived in British Columbia for at least six months immediately before registering 
• Live within the District of Sooke when registering 
• Not be disqualified from voting under provincial legislation  

A person who owns property in Sooke but lives elsewhere may qualify as a non-resident property elector. Additional eligibility, proof-of-ownership and written-consent requirements apply. 

Electors who need to register when voting must provide two pieces of identification that establish their identity and place of residence. At least one piece must include a signature. Electors already included on the voters list may not be required to show identification, but everyone is encouraged to bring identification to avoid delays.  

Voting by mail 

Eligible electors may also apply to vote by mail. Mail-ballot applications must be received by 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2026. 

Electors should apply as early as possible to allow enough time to receive and complete their package. Completed mail ballots must be received by the Chief Election Officer before voting closes at 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Ballots received after the deadline cannot be counted.  

Make a plan to vote 

Before heading to a voting place, electors are encouraged to: 

• Choose an advance opportunity or plan to vote on General Voting Day 
• Review candidate information and the non-binding opinion question 
• Confirm their eligibility 
• Gather identification and any additional documents they may require 
• Apply promptly when voting by mail  

Find additional information on the 2026 local government general election at sooke.ca/elections.