Information for Candidates

Key Dates for 2026 General Local Election (Province-wide)

• Election period begins: January 1, 2026 — this is when campaign financing record-keeping and reporting rules start applying.
• Pre-campaign period begins: July 20, 2026 — limited advertising must include sponsorship info if it promotes/oppose candidates.
• Nomination period: September 1 to September 11, 2026 — this is when prospective candidates must file nomination papers with their local Chief Election Officer to officially become candidates.
• Campaign period (official): September 19 to October 17, 2026 — regulated period where specific campaign financing rules apply and election advertising must follow sponsorship and expense rules.
• General Voting Day: October 17, 2026.

What “Start Campaigning” Really Means:

There are different phases that affect what you can do and when:

1. General campaigning / talking to people (informal)

Candidates and prospective candidates can engage informally (e.g., meeting voters, discussing issues) long before any official dates, as there is no ban on general public engagement before nomination. Provincial campaign law doesn’t strictly prohibit early communication about yourself, so long as you observe the advertising rules once the regulated periods start. (This is similar to how provincial campaigns often operate outside the official campaign period.)

2. Regulated campaign period

Official campaign period starts September 19, 2026. Within this period, all election advertising promoting you as a candidate must include sponsorship and comply with expense limits and reporting.

3. Pre-campaign period

From July 20, 2026 until September 18, 2026, if you run advertising that promotes or opposes you or an elector organization, you must follow specific sponsorship disclosure rules.

Candidate Nomination Period 

The Candidate Nomination Period for the election of  Electoral Area Director and Thetis Island Local Trust Area Trustee for the 2026 General Local Election, runs from September 1, 2026 to September 11, 2026.

All Candidates must complete a nomination package during the specified time frame noted above. Nomination packages will be available for pick up from the CVRD Ingram Offices located at 175 Ingram Street. All nomination packages must be filed in person, please book an appointment to review the nomination package with the Chief Election Officer or Deputy Chief Election Officer by contacting election@cvrd.bc.ca or 250.746.2500.

Running for Local Office

Residents of B.C. who are interested in running for office in a general local election must meet certain requirements to be nominated for and hold office if elected. In addition, how elected officials conduct themselves as individuals, and collectively as part of a decision-making body, is key to carrying out their responsibilities and providing good governance to their communities.

Provincial legislation sets out residency and nomination requirements, the nomination process, public access to nomination documents, how candidates may run their election campaigns and conduct election advertising as well as campaign financing recording and disclosure rules and certain campaign financing restrictions. Visit the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing website for further information on the election process.

Campaign Financing

Elections BC administers campaign financing for local government elections. Forms and Guides are available here.
Campaign Expense Limits for both Electoral Area Directors and Islands Trust Local Area Trustees can be viewed

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