Are you interested in running for public office in British Columbia? The 2026 General Local Elections for BC are happening this fall on Saturday, October 17, 2026. You can apply to run for Mayor, City Councillor, or School Board Trustee. Each is an important role to fill for your community and your constituents.

As electoral candidates, there are a number of dates that are of importance leading to the election. You can view the full list of key dates for the 2026 BC General Local Elections at Elections BC.

Key Dates for the 2026 BC General Local Elections

• July 31, 2026 — Deadline for elector organizations to register with Elections BC
• August 18, 2026 — Deadline to register to vote in advance with Elections BC (voters can still register with their local government after this date, up to and including at the time of voting)
• September 1–11, 2026 — Nomination period: candidates file their nomination packages with their local government
• September 19, 2026 — Campaign period begins
• Saturday, October 17, 2026 — General Voting Day

A few things worth knowing as a candidate: unlike provincial elections, local elections in BC are not run by a single organization. Each municipality, regional district, and board of education runs its own election — voting, ballot counting, and candidate nominations are all handled by your local Chief Election Officer. Elections BC’s role is to administer the campaign financing and election advertising rules under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, and it is your responsibility as a candidate to follow those rules. For the 2026 elections, campaign contributions (including both monetary donations and in-kind contributions) are capped at $1,429.70 per contributor. Nomination packages are available from the local government office where you intend to run, generally two to four weeks before the nomination period opens.

If you don’t already have a website set up for your campaign, Electable is ready to launch your Mayor, Council, or School Board Trustee campaign today with our Basic Campaign Website, or our Managed Campaign Website.

The BC Government has created a good resource for those applying to run as a municipal candidate. Read about Running for Local Office in BC here. The information includes:

1. Candidate Eligibility
2. Nominations and Financial Disclosure
3. Election Campaigns
4. Election Advertising and Campaign Finance Rules
5. Responsible Conduct

The Province has also published a helpful 2026 Election FAQ covering nominations, the voters list, and voting day questions.

Our team at Electable has also prepared a few resources for each candidate type:

Mayoral and City Councillor Electoral Candidates

1. Elections BC: 2026 General Local Elections
2. Union of BC Municipalities: Local Government Elections
3. CBC News: A Guide to the Salary of Every Mayor and Councillor in British Columbia

School Board Trustee Candidates

1. BC School Trustees Association: Guide for School Trustee Candidates
2. BC School Trustees Association: About School Board Trustees: The Role of Boards
3. BC Government: School Trustee Election Procedures in BC

Whatever civic role you’re running for, you have a vision to share and hopefully, a leadership role waiting for you. Sign up for your election website at Electable and get your campaign off to a great start.

Details are available for each of the municipalities in British Columbia.

We’re excited to see what you bring to the table in your community.