Vancouver city election: Voters encouraged to vote on October 20

Over 48,000 votes have already been cast in advance voting 

 

VANCOUVER City Hall is encouraging voters to vote in the city election on Saturday, October 20.

More than 100 voting places will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. across the city, and voters can go to any place to cast their vote. Over 48,000 votes have already been cast in advance voting from October 10 to 17, which is 27% more than the 38,400 votes cast in advance voting in 2014.

Citizens who received voter information cards are encouraged to bring them to the voting place to speed up voting.

Most voting places are wheelchair accessible: find accessibility details for every location on the City website. Support is also available for those who need help marking their ballot or have difficulty speaking, reading, or understanding English.

Selfie stations are also available at each voting location, and citizens are encouraged to share pictures with their I Voted stickers and the #VancouverVotes hashtag to raise awareness of voting.

For key updates, follow the City’s Twitter account (@cityofvancouver) for the latest information.

Get faster service: plan your vote and choose the right time and place

 

A long ballot and many enthusiastic voters may mean longer wait times at some voting places. For a faster voting experience, the City recommends the following steps:

1)   Plan your vote in advance

Voters can easily make a plan to take to the voting place in two ways:

• Use the Plan Your Vote tool at vancouver.ca/vote, or
• Fill in the worksheet in the printed voters’ guide, available at all community centres and libraries.

2)   Vote at the least-busy times

Vote early! 12-3 p.m. is the busiest time for voting on election day, according to 2014 data.

3)   Pick a less-busy voting place

For voters looking to vote quickly, the least busy voting places in 2014 were:

• Emily Carr Elementary School
• Ray-Cam Co-Operative Centre
• Trinity Baptist Church
• Shaughnessy Elementary School
• Culloden Court Community Hall
• Eric Hamber Secondary School
• Ecole Anne-Hebert Elementary

As well, the busiest voting places in Vancouver were:

• Kitsilano Community Centre
• Kerrisdale Community Centre
• Roundhouse Community Centre
• King George Secondary School
• Britannia Community Centre
• Killarney Community Centre
• Sunset Community Centre
• Mount Pleasant Community Centre
• Creekside Community Recreation Centre

During election day, the City’s Twitter account (@cityofvancouver) will also tweet out information on the busiest and least busy locations for voters.

 

Where to find results

 

Unofficial results will be posted to vancouver.ca/vote after 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 20.

Barring any unforeseen issues, the City anticipates the first set of results will be posted by 9 p.m., with full results available around 11 p.m. or later. Voting places require time to pack up and deliver the ballot counting machines with results to the Chief Election Officer at Vancouver City Hall.

The City will also post regular updates on its Twitter account (@cityofvancouver) to notify followers when the latest round of results have been put on the website, and inform of any other critical issues.

Official results will be declared on October 24 by 4 p.m., and a news release will be issued with the final results and voter turnout percentage.

 

Buildings lighting up in salmon across Vancouver

 

To promote the city election period, several buildings across Vancouver will be lighting up in salmon (hot pink) on October 20. Salmon is the main colour in the City of Vancouver Election Office’s nonpartisan colour palette.

Buildings that will light up on October 20 include:

–      Vancouver City Hall

–      False Creek Energy Centre

–      Telus Garden

–      Science World

 

Four races, 27 positions open

 

In the 2018 Vancouver municipal election, voters will elect:

• One mayor
• 10 councillors
• Seven Park Board commissioners
• Nine School Board trustees

All offices are held for a four-year term. Voters will also vote on three questions on borrowing for the City’s Capital Plan.

Full information on the election, including candidate profiles and how to vote, are available at vancouver.ca/vote.