The City of Vancouver is ramping up its outreach efforts ahead of the municipal election to make sure residents have all the information they need before they head to the polls this Fall. Outreach teams will be at various community centers, libraries and farmers’ markets answering questions residents may have. Haley Cairns, an outreach coordinator with the City of Vancouver, said staff plan to attend about 60 events before election day, which is scheduled for Oct. 17. Cairns said the goal is to make voting information more accessible for the public, especially for those who may face barriers. “We’ve already talked to a lot of people who didn’t know the election was coming,” Cairns said. “We’ve talked to a lot of people who’ve never voted in an election before, and I think just being out here and being a friendly face in the community makes it a really approachable topic for people to come up and receive that information” Cairns added that a common question staff receive is how people can vote if they are out of town during the election period. Advance voting days are October 3, 7,10 and 13. Residents can also vote by mail. “We’re trying to meet people where they’re at by going through trusted organizations,” Cairns said. “We’re trying to reach communities that aren’t necessarily reached by normal forms of media.” The city has increased the number of voting centres this year, and has hired over 2,200 staff for the election. Cairns said the city is preparing for 100 per cent voter turnout. There will be 59 advance voting places, and 85 voting locations on Oct. 17. As per a May 11 city memo, the 2026 election will be funded through the city’s Election Reserve and is estimated to cost about $9.4 million.
