Elections and Referendums

In the 2018 municipal election, residents of Victoria and Saanich voted in favour of exploring the costs, benefits and disadvantages of amalgamation of the two municipalities through a citizens' assembly process.

In July 2025, the Victoria-Saanich Citizens' Assembly provided its recommendations for amalgamation to both municipalities.

Learn about the work of the Citizens’ Assembly and read their final report to understand why the assembly believes the two communities should amalgamate.
 

October 2014 - During the 2014 General Local Elections, both Victoria and Saanich conducted community opinion questions asking residents if they were in favour of exploring amalgamation or integration. In both municipalities, residents voted in favour of exploring these concepts further. 

October 2018 - During the 2018 General Local Elections, both Victoria and Saanich residents were asked the following community opinion question: “Are you in favour of spending up to $250,000 for establishing a Citizens’ Assembly to explore the costs, benefits and disadvantages of the amalgamation between the District of Saanich and the City of Victoria?” 

A majority of voters in both municipalities supported the proposal. Victoria, Saanich and the Province each contributed approximately $250,000 to undertake this work. The work was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2024-2025 – Work resumed in 2024 with the establishment of the Citizens’ Assembly, supported by MASS LBP and guided by a Terms of Reference approved by both Councils. The Citizens’ Assembly was composed of 48 randomly selected residents from Victoria and Saanich. It met for eight, full-day sessions between September 2024 and April 2025. 

April 2025 - The Assembly concluded its deliberations on April 5, 2025, announcing its recommendation that the City of Victoria and the District of Saanich amalgamate into a single municipality.

July 2025 - The Citizens’ Assembly’s Final Report and findings were presented to Council. At the July 31, 2025 Daytime Council Meeting, Council passed the following resolution: “That Council receive the Victoria-Saanich Citizens’ Assembly – Final Report submission for information and direct staff to work with their counterparts in Saanich to craft a short question to be placed on the 2026 local election ballot in both municipalities, and to report back to Council with that question and any other information staff deem relevant, including whether the public needs more information in order to make an informed decision.”

October 2025 - The mayors of Victoria and Saanich jointly requested provincial authorization to hold a referendum in each municipality during the 2026 General Local Elections. 

April 2026 – The Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs informed the City and District of Saanich that a referendum would only be considered following additional analysis of the financial, transitional and service impacts of amalgamation, and consultation with area First Nations.

July 2026 – Victoria and Saanich Councils decide to move forward with the same non-binding question on their ballots: "Do you support Saanich and Victoria becoming one municipality?"

October 2026 – Local government elections are held across B.C. on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. 

You can vote by mail, in advance or on General Voting Day.  

Watch for details in September.

To vote in the City of Victoria's Local Government Election, you must:

• be a resident of the City of Victoria
• be a resident of British Columbia for at least six months before the day of registration
• be 18 years of age or older
• be a Canadian Citizen
• not be disqualified by law from voting  

For voters with accessibility needs, we have services available to help you vote.

• A priority line for those who need it at all voting opportunities.
• All voting locations are wheelchair accessible.  
• Voters who can’t enter a voting place, including parents and caregivers, can vote at the curb or in the parking lot.
• An accessible voting machine will be available at:  
  • Advance voting opportunities: Victoria Conference Centre, Upper Pavilion (Oct. 7) and Crystal Garden (Oct. 13, 14 and 15)
  • General Voting Day on Oct. 17 at Crystal Garden
• Assistance is available to voters unable to mark a ballot because of a physical disability or difficulty with reading or writing. Voters needing assistance to mark their ballot may bring another person, who will be required to sign a declaration, or ask an election official for assistance.

Check to see if you're on the City's voters list.

If you're not on the voters list, please see How to Register to Vote below.

The City of Victoria uses the most current available provincial list of voters prepared by Elections BC. If you are listed on the provincial voters list, you should be on the City's voter list. 

If you qualify as a resident elector but are not on the provincial voters list by Aug. 25, 2026, then you may register:

• when you vote at Advance Voting or at a General Voting Day voting place
• when you vote by mail

Two pieces of ID are required to register to vote. Please see Identity Documents below to know what ID to bring.

The following are valid identity documents for proving voter identity.

• If you are a registered voter (on the voters list), you will need one piece of ID.  
• If you are registering to vote at a voting place, you will be required to present two pieces of ID (one must have your signature).

The following are valid documents for proving voter identity:

• BC Driver’s Licence*  
• Photo BC Services Card*  
• Non-photo BC Services Card*  
• BC Identification Card  
• Certificate of Indian Status issued by the Government of Canada  
• Student card issued by a post-secondary institution  
• Owner’s Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence issued by ICBC  
• BC CareCard or BC Gold CareCard  
• Security Request for Continued Assistance Form SDES8  
• Social Insurance Card  
• Confirmation of Social Insurance Number letter issued by the Government of Canada  
• Canadian Citizenship Card  
• City of Victoria Property Tax Notice  
• Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits  
• BC Government cheque  
• Income Tax Assessment Notice  
• Canadian Forces Identification  
• Old Age Security Identification Card  
• Canadian Passport  
• Birth Certificate  
• Credit card or debit card or statement  
• Utility bill issued for the supply of electricity, natural gas, water, telephone services or coaxial cable services  
• A completed and signed Solemn Declaration that is witnessed and signed by a Commissioner of Affidavits in Form 12-16  

*The dual BC Driver’s Licence and Services Card are one piece of ID.  
 

Victoria property owners who live elsewhere in B.C. may be eligible to vote in the 2026 Local Government Election as a non-resident property elector. The owners must be individuals, not corporations.

Non-resident property electors must meet the following qualifications:

• age 18 or older on General Voting Day
• a Canadian citizen
• a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before the day of registration
• a registered owner of real property in the City of Victoria for at least 30 days before the day of registration
• the only persons who are registered owners of the property, either as joint tenants or tenants in common, are individuals who are not holding the property in trust for a corporation or another trust
• not entitled to register as a resident elector
• not disqualified by any enactment from voting in an election or otherwise disqualified by law
• 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 

See How to Register as a Non-Resident Property Elector below.
 

If you are not on the voters list and qualify as a non-resident property elector, you may register in advance or at the time of voting. Non-resident property elector registration on voting day requires additional documentation. These documents include:

• proof of identity
• proof of place of residence
• proof of property ownership

To register as a non-resident property elector, you must provide:

• two pieces of personal identification -- one with your residential address and one with your signature; and
• property title deed or current City of Victoria property tax receipt; and
• a completed Application Form and;
• a completed Consent Form, if the property is owned jointly with other individuals

You are ineligible to register as a non-resident property elector with corporate-owned properties. There is no corporate vote in BC.

Call Legislative Services at 250.361.0571 for more information about voting as a non-resident property elector.

Sign up now on the Future Voters List to be automatically registered to vote when you turn 18, if you're:

• 16 or 17 years old
• a resident of B.C.
• a Canadian citizen  

To run for a seat on Victoria City Council, candidates must be:

• a Canadian citizen  
• 18 years of age or older on General Voting Day
• a resident of B.C. for at least six months before the day nomination papers are filed, and  
• not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment.

Note: You do not need to be a City of Victoria resident to run for Council. 

To be nominated, a candidate must:  

• Consent to the nomination  
• Submit nomination documents
• Be nominated by at least 25 nominators (a nominator must be eligible to vote in Victoria as a resident elector or as a non-resident property elector)*
• Pay a $100 refundable deposit when submitting nomination documents (refunded when a candidate files their Financial Disclosure Statement after the election)
• Submit a Financial Disclosure Statement that identifies corporate and personal holdings (the statement is part of the nomination documents)

*An elector can act as a nominator for more than one candidate but must not nominate more candidates than there are positions to be filled during the election. 

The nomination period opens Sept. 1, 2026 at 9 a.m. and closes on Sept. 11, 2026 at 4 p.m. Pacific Time.  

The Chief Election Officer accepts nomination documents only during the nomination period. 

The nomination documents contain the required forms, declarations and information needed for  prospective candidates to complete the nomination process.

Prospective candidates are encouraged to carefully review all materials before submitting.

Nomination documents may only be submitted during the nomination period and must meet all legislative requirements.

The nomination period opens Sept. 1, 2026 at 9 a.m. and closes on Sept. 11, 2026 at 4 p.m. Pacific Time.

2026 Victoria Election Nomination Forms and Information 

Prospective candidates are encouraged to review the Candidate Information Guide located within the nomination documents for additional information on eligibility, key dates, campaign requirements and the election process.

If you have questions regarding the nomination process, please contact the City’s Election Office at elections@victoria.ca or 250.361.0571.

Candidates can submit their nomination documents to the Chief Election Officer by:  

• In person: Legislative Services at Victoria City Hall, weekdays from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Please use the Pandora Avenue or Centennial Square entrance.) 
• Email: elections@victoria.ca
• Mail: Legislative Services, City of Victoria, 1 Centennial Square, Victoria, BC V8W 1P6

Appointments are strongly recommended for in-person visits. 

Candidates can pay their nomination deposit:  

• In-person at the Public Service Centre at Victoria City Hall, weekdays from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Methods of payment include debit, cash, cheque and credit card.  
• By e-transfer to accountsreceivable@victoria.ca, attention: Chief Election Officer

Note: Please include the payment receipt when submitting your nomination documents.  

Elections BC administers, investigates and enforces campaign financing, third-party sponsor and election advertising provisions under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act.

Information can be found on the Elections BC website, including online learning modules regarding:

• Campaign Financing
• Electoral Organizations
• Third-Party Advertising 

Candidates must only post signs during the “campaign period” which is 28 days before and four days after General Voting Day (Oct. 17, 2026). This year’s campaign signage timeframe is Sept. 19 to Oct. 21, 2026.  

Anyone placing an election sign must follow the rules outlined in the City’s Sign Bylaw.  

The Province of B.C. has additional information about running for local office.