Elections

General
Local Government Elections 2026

The following information is intended to assist City of Trail electors by answering commonly asked questions about General Local Government Elections.

This page will be updated regularly as we move forward in the 2026 elections.

Contact Us

If you require additional information or have questions that are not answered here, please contact:

Chief Election Officer

Deputy Chief Election Officer

The next General Local Government Election will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The City of Trail electors will elect:

  • one (1) Mayor
  • six (6) Councillors
  • two (2) School Trustees for School District No 20 (Kootenay-Columbia)

Key Dates

EventDate
Nomination Packages Available:August 4, 2026
List of Registered Electors Available for Public InspectionSeptember 1, 2026
Nomination Period Begins - 9:00 a.m.September 1, 2026
Nomination Period Ends - 4:00 p.m.September 11, 2026
Request for Mail Ballots to be Recieved no Later than September 18September 18, 2026
Deadline to Challenge Nominations or Elector Organization EndoresementsSeptember 18, 2026
Last Day to Withdraw from Being a CandidateSeptember 18, 2026
Campaign Period Begins - 12:01 a.m.September 19, 2026
Advance Voting Opportunity (8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.) - Trail Aquatic and Leisure CentreOctober 7, 2026
Advance Voting Opportunity (8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.) - Trail Aquatic and Leisure CentreOctober 14, 2026
General Voting Day (8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.) - Trail Memorial CentreOctober 17, 2026
Mail Ballot Voting DeadlineOctober 17, 2026
Declaration of Official ResultsOctober 21, 2026
Deadline for Campaign Financing Disclosure StatementJanuary 15, 2027

Candidate Information

Serving your community can be a rewarding experience. There are many good reasons to run for office – you might run to be actively involved in the local decision-making process, contribute your experience and knowledge to the community, address issues or lead change in your community. Here are some of the ways you can prepare:

  • Attend Council meetings to learn about priority issues/projects and observe what being on council might be like;Review the City of Trail financial plan, strategic plan, master plans and annual reports;
  • Get to know key groups in the community to understand the diversity of interests in our area;
  • Research the internet for information about local governments and basic facts

  1. You are qualified to be nominated, elected and to hold office as a member of local government if you meet the following criteria:
  2. be 18 years of age or older on general voting day (October 17, 2026); be a Canadian citizen;
  3. have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately prior to filing nomination documents (prior to March 10, 2026);
  4. not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment from being nominated for, being elected to or holding office, or be otherwise disqualified by law.

Generally, local elections candidates must be nominated by eligible electors and declared a candidate by the local Chief Elections Officer.

In addition to the above, Candidates are required to file financial disclosure statements, when they complete and submit their nomination packages. While in office, financial disclosures are filed annually and upon leaving elected office.

Potential candidates should familiarize themselves with campaign financial requirements, information is available on the Elections BC website.

Elections BC helps local elections candidates and their financial agents understand the rules under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act. Among other requirements, local elections candidates must:

  1. Open a separate campaign account and use it for all financial transactions. If you have difficulty opening a campaign account at a savings institution, a letter can be provided to take to the institution that explains the legislated requirement.
  2. File a disclosure statement with Elections BC within 90 days after General Voting Day

Candidate Nomination Packages will be available both in-person at City Hall or via email from August 4, 2026. Please come to City Hall to collect the package or email and request a nomination package via email.

Nominations will be accepted by the Chief or Deputy Chief Elections Officer beginning at 8:30 a.m., on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, and ending at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026. Potential candidates are reminded that in order to run as a candidate, you must be nominated by two (2) people who are qualified to vote either as resident or non-resident property electors in the City of Trail.

All Candidates Forum

  • Thursday, October 1, 2026

  • Trail Memorial Centre – Victoria View Room

  • Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

  • Event begins at 7:00 p.m.

Related Downloads

Questions?

Further information related to the 2026 Local Government Elections may be obtained at the following locations:

Legislation

The requirements for local government candidates are guided by several pieces of provincial legislation:

Notices & Declarations

Mail Ballot Information

Voter Information & Eligibility

You can vote in the City of Trail election for Mayor and Councillors, and School District No. 20 Trustee if you are a resident of Trail (“resident elector”), or own property in Trail even if you don’t reside in Trail (“non-resident property elector”).

Provincial legislation gives eligible B.C. residents the right to vote in general local elections and by-elections. This right is subject to certain restrictions, limitations, and requirements. Additionally, local governments are required to provide access to voting, through various opportunities, such as advance voting day.

To be eligible to vote in general local elections or by-elections as a resident property elector, a person must:

  1. Be 18 years of age or older when they register to vote, or 18 years or older on general voting day
  2. Be a Canadian citizen
  3. Have been a resident of B.C. for at least six months before they register to vote
  4. Have either lived or owned property in the jurisdiction in which they intent to vote
  5. Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment, or by law from voting in a local election

Voting rights are granted to citizens based on residency or property ownership, There is no corporate or business vote in local elections.

When a person lives in one jurisdiction and owns property in one or more jurisdictions, they may vote once in each of the other jurisdictions where they own property, as long as they meet the voter eligibility requirements.

If a person owns a property with one or more other individuals, only one person is eligible to vote as the non-resident property elector for that property. The owner entitled to vote must be designated, in writing, by the majority of the property owners.

A person cannot vote on behalf of a corporation, or as a non-property elector, based on a property owner wholly or in part by a corporation.

Students who live in one jurisdiction and attend an educational institution in a jurisdiction different from their usual place of residence may vote only once, either in the jurisdiction where they attend school or in the jurisdiction that is their usual place of residence.

Frequently Asked Questions

In accordance with Provincial legislation, if a person is already registered on the voters list, there is no ID requirement at the time of voting, although a solemn verbal declaration will have to be made by the elector prior to receiving a ballot, to ensure that they are the person named on the voters list. Although it is not required to vote, staff may ask if you have ID in an effort to help speed up the process during the ballot assignment. If a person is not already registered on the voters list, and they are eligible to vote, the following ID requirement must be met when registering at the time of voting:

  • At least two ID document must be shown that provide evidence of the person’s identity and place of residence, at least one of which must contain the person’s signature.

OR

  • At least two ID documents must be shown that provide evidence of the person’s identity, at least one of which must contain the person’s signature, and make a solemn declaration as to the person’s place of residence.
Acceptable forms of identification include:
  • BC Driver’s License
  • BC ID Card
  • BC Care Card or BC Gold Care Card
  • BC Services Card with or without photo
  • Social Insurance Number Card
  • Certification of Vehicle Insurance (ICBC)
  • Canadian Citizenship Card
  • Credit Card or Debit Card
  • Property Tax Notice
  • Utility Bill

  • A person is a resident of the municipality or Electoral Area where the person lives. To answer the question, “Where do I live?” refer first to the address given on the driver’s license and on Income Tax statements. It is also the place where one would register minor children for school.
  • A person may not be a resident of more than one municipality at a time.
  • A person does not cease to be a resident by leaving for temporary purposes (i.e. vacation, school).
  • A resident does not have to own property. A resident may be a renter.

A person is a non-resident property elector if they do not live in the municipality or Electoral Area but instead own property in the municipality or Electoral Area.

To register as a “NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY ELECTOR” you must be:

  • age 18 or older when you register to vote or will be 18 years of age or older on general voting day; and
  • a Canadian citizen; and
  • a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months before you register to vote; and
  • a registered owner of real property in the City of Trail before you register to vote; and
  • not entitled to register as a resident elector; and
  • must not be disqualified by law (currently incarcerated or having been convicted of election offenses).

Only one of the owners may vote on behalf of the property as a non-resident elector. If the property is owned by more than one person, the majority of owners have to decide which of them will be voting on behalf of the property and complete a Consent form.

The land title proves both ownership and identifies how many people are on title. If there is more than one person on title, a written consent is required to designate one of the owners as the voter.

No, you must be a Canadian Citizen to vote.

Yes, if the requirements of a resident or non-resident elector are met.

No.

No. No person may vote more than one time in any election.

No. Only people can vote. There is no corporate vote in British Columbia.  A corporation is not entitled to vote or have a representative registered as an elector.

 

On General Voting Day, Saturday, October 17, 2026, City of Trail electors will vote at the Trail Memorial Centre in the Victoria View Room located at 1051 Victoria Street, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Yes – the Advance Voting Opportunities will be held on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 and Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at the Trail Aquatic and Leisure Centre located at 1875 Columbia Ave, Trail, BC, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

All eligible electors can vote at an Advance Voting Opportunity.

The City of Trail also offers “Curbside Voting” during both Advance Voting and General Voting to make voting places as accessible as reasonably possible. If you can travel to a voting place but due to a disability or impaired mobility you find it difficult to get into the building or room where voting is taking place a request can be made to the Chief Election Officer or Deputy Chief Election Officer for a mobile voting station to be brought outside the place of voting.

In addition, on General Voting Day, Saturday, October 17, 2026, Special Voting Opportunities will be held.

No, all residents of Trail who meet the qualifications to register as a resident elector, as noted above, are entitled to vote, regardless of whether or not they own property.

People who own property in Trail, but don’t live in the city, can register as a Non- Resident Property Elector, provided they meet the qualifications to register as a “Non-Resident Property Elector” as noted above.  However, only one non-resident property elector may vote per property.  If there is more than one registered owner of the property, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majority of the owners, register as a non-resident property elector. (To obtain a Consent Form please contact the Chief Election Officer at

Nomination packages are available from the Chief Election Officer or Deputy Chief Elections Officer at Trail City Hall, 1394 Pine Avenue, starting Tuesday, August 4, 2026, during regular office hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, except statutory holidays.

Nomination papers can be filed with the Chief Election Officer or Deputy Chief Elections Officer between 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 and 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026, (excluding Statutory Holidays and weekends), at Trail City Hall, 1394 Pine Avenue.

Beginning September 1, 2026 a List of Registered Electors will be available, upon signature, to view at Trail City Hall, 1394 Pine Avenue, during regular office hours from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, except statutory holidays, or you can call City Hall at (250) 364-1262 to inquire.

No, if you are not on the List of Registered Electors, but you meet all of the qualifications noted above to register as a resident elector, or a non-resident property elector, you may register and vote at the Advance Voting Opportunity, on General Voting Day or by advance elector registration if received by August 25, 2026.  Please note that two pieces of identification will be required (at least one with a signature), to prove both residency and identity.

  • Anyone who commits an election offence, such as voting more than once or signing a false statement, is liable to a fine of up to $5,000 and up to one year in prison.
  • Anyone convicted of a more serious election offence, such as vote buying or intimidation could be subject to a fine of up to $10,000 and two years in prison.
  • They may also be prohibited from holding office and voting in local government elections for up to six years.

The police are responsible for investigating alleged election offences, and the Courts are responsible for adjudicating allegations, making decision and imposing penalties.

  • The Chief Election Officer has limited authority to enforce election rules, such as the authority to challenge the nomination of a candidate or the eligibility of an elector in the Courts, and to maintain order at voting places. The Chief Election Officer does not investigate alleged election offences or administer penalties.

Yes, the person translating for you must sign a solemn declaration before providing assistance. Speak to the Election Official at the voting place for further information.

  • Yes, if you need assistance, an election official may assist you to vote. If you are caring for someone (e.g. A child or elderly relative) at the time you cast your ballot, the Presiding Election Official may allow you to have that person in the booth with you.
  • Anyone providing assistance to another elector is required to sign a solemn declaration before providing any assistance. Speak to the Presiding Election Official at the voting place for further information.

Yes, you must sign a written statement and sign a solemn declaration in order to assist someone to vote. Speak to the Presiding Election Official at the voting place for further information.

If you believe someone has committed an election offence, contact your local police. The police are responsible for conducting an investigation and recommending to Crown Counsel whether charges should be laid. Election offences are prosecuted through the judicial system. The Chief Elections Officer does not investigate alleged election offences.