2026 Municipal Election

You must meet all of the following criteria:

Resident Electors

For residents of Golden, you are eligible if you meet all of the following criteria on Voting Day:

• be a Canadian citizen;
• 18 years of age or older on election day;
• have lived in B.C. for at least six months (prior to April 16, 2026);
• be a resident of Golden; and
• not be disqualified from voting in an election or by law.

To prove your identity and eligibility to register as a non-resident property elector, please bring with you:

• Two pieces of personal identification (ID): at least one piece of ID must have your signature and one must have your address (acceptable forms of identification are listed below). 

Non-Resident Property Electors

If you own property in Golden but live elsewhere in B.C., you might qualify as a non-resident property elector as long as you meet all of the following criteria:

• be a Canadian citizen;
• 18 years of age or older on election day;
• have lived in B.C. for at least six months (prior to April 16, 2026);
• have owned property, registered in your personal name, in Golden for at least 30 days; and
• not be disqualified from voting in an election or by law.

To prove your identity and eligibility to register as a non-resident property elector, please bring with you:

• Two pieces of personal identification: one with residential address, and one with your signature (acceptable forms of identification are listed below).
• Property title deed or current Town of Golden property tax receipt.
• Application Form (available in September 2026).
• Consent Form, if the property is owned jointly with other individuals - available at Legislative Services or below.

If a property is owned in whole or in part by a corporation, you are ineligible to register as a non-resident property elector with regard to that property. There is no corporate vote in British Columbia.

For further information about registering to vote as a non-resident property elector, please contact the Town of Golden Election Officers.

Voter Registration

The Town of Golden does not use a voters list. All voters must register at the time of voting.

Advance Voting

Advance voting will take place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mount 7 Rec Plex located at 1310 9th Street South. 

Voting Day

Voting Day will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mount 7 Rec Plex located at 1310 9th Street South. 

Steps in the voting process:

1. Show up on voting day, whether you are Advance Voting or voting on Election Day at one of the locations listed above between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
2. Present two pieces of identification (ID) to the clerk, at least one piece of ID must have your signature and one must have your address (acceptable forms of identification are listed below). Your name will be recorded, you will sign your declaration of residency and you will be instructed how to cast your ballot.
3. Go to the voting booth and make your choices with the special pen provided, following the instructions on the ballot.
4. Walk your completed ballot over to the electronic voting machine and feed your ballot into the machine. Staff will be there to assist you if you have any questions or issues.
5. Wait for the election results to come in after the polls close at 8 p.m. Local media will report the election results as they come in and they will be available on our website and social media channels. Unofficial results should be available around 10 p.m. on Voting Day.

All voters must prove their identity and residential address before voting. There are three ways to do this:

ID's that are acceptable:

• *BC Driver's License
• BC ID card from Motor Vehicle Branch
• ICBC Owner's Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle License
• *BC Care Card
• Status Card
•  Citizenship or membership card issued by a first nation
• Citizenship card issued by Métis Nation British Columbia
• Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security Request for Continued Assistance Form SDES8
• Social Insurance card
• Citizenship card issued by Government of Canada
• Property tax notice
• Credit card or debit card
• Utility bill for electricity, natural gas, water, telephone or cable services
• Income assistance cheque stub showing name and ID number
• Statutory declaration or sworn affidavit (from a notary public, lawyer, or commissioner for taking oaths)

*Please note that the combined BC Driver's Licence and BC Care Card will be considered as ONE piece of ID.

To run for the office of Mayor and Council, you must:

• be 18 years of age or older on general voting day (October 17, 2026);
• be a Canadian citizen;
• have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately prior to filing nomination documents (prior to March 10, 2026); and
• have not been 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.

You are not eligible to run for local government office if you:

• are a judge of the Provincial Court, Supreme Court or Court of Appeal;
• are an employee or salaried officer of the local government (unless you have taken a leave of absence to run for office and agree to resign if elected), including if you are running as a regional district electoral area director when employed by a municipality which is a member of that regional district;
• are under sentence for an indictable offence and are in custody or in prison;
• have been found guilty of an elections offence, such as double voting or buying votes and are prohibited from holding office; or
• are disqualified for not filing a disclosure statement in a previous election or for not making an oath of office or attending meetings.

Nomination packages will be available for pickup starting August 4, 2026, at Town Hall. 

• July 20 - September 19, 2026: Pre-campaign period.
• August 2026: Nomination packages will be available for pickup starting August 4. 
• September 1 - 11, 2026: Nomination Period
  The nomination period begins at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 1 and ends at 4 p.m. on September 11. 
• September 18, 2026: Last day to withdraw from being a candidate.
• September 19 - October 17, 2026: Campaign period.
• October 7, 2026: Advanced voting.
• October 17, 2026: Voting day .
• October 21, 2026: Declaration of official results.
• November 3, 2026: Inaugural Council Meeting and Oaths of Offices.
• January 15, 2027: Deadline for filing campaign financing disclosure statement to Elections BC.

The statutory period for receiving nomination documents begins at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, and ends at 4 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026.

You may fill in the nomination documents by hand or use the electronic versions available by request. If you complete the forms electronically, you will need to print them out and ensure that they are signed and dated as required.

Submitting Nomination Documents

Nomination documents may be delivered by hand, mail or delivery service, or by email at election@golden.ca with originals to follow to the Town of Golden: 810 9^th Ave, Box 350, Golden BC, V0A 1H0.

Candidates must make a solemn declaration on the documents. Nominations and declarations are most commonly taken by the Chief Election Officer or designate, at the time nomination papers are filed. However, the declaration can also be taken by a lawyer, notary or Commissioner for Taking Affidavits in British Columbia at the candidate’s cost. Emailed or faxed nomination papers must include the completed solemn declaration.

Town Hall is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Chief Election Officer must receive original nomination documents (if submitted by email/fax) by 4 p.m. on Friday, September 18, 2026, or candidacy is deemed withdrawn.

To avoid delays in filing nomination papers, we recommend that you make an appointment to file your nomination papers. To make an appointment, email election@golden.ca or call 250-344-2271 and ask to speak with the Chief Election Officer or Deputy Chief Election Officer.

In accordance with the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, for the 2026 general local election, the following expense limits for candidates during the campaign period apply:

• Mayor - (to be published after May 31, 2026)
• Councillor - (to be published after May 31, 2026)

View these quick reference sheets from Elections BC to learn more.

If you have any questions about the campaign financing and advertising rules in local elections, contact Elections BC at 1-800-661-8683 or electoral.finance@elections.bc.ca.

Stay tuned for more resources!

For Candidates:

• Handbook for Local Candidates 
• Guide for Local Elections Campaign Financing in BC for Candidates and their Financial Agents

For Third Party Advertising Sponsors:

• Guide for Local Third Party Advertising Sponsors in B.C (coming soon)

For Elector Organizations:

• Guide to Local Elections Campaign Financing in B.C. for Elector Organizations and their Financial Agents
• Guide to Elector Organization Registration and Deregistration
• Elector Organization Annual Financial Report Completion Guide