CIVIC ELECTION – Turnout at advance polls suggests busy election day

If the turnout on three advance voting days is any indication, Kamloopsians could be heading for the polls in big numbers for tomorrow’s (Oct. 17, 2026) civic election.

Electors casting their ballots on Oct. 7, 10 and 14 totalled 8,032, way ahead of 2022, when 5,138 ballots were cast.

“It’s so great seeing so many people getting out to vote early,” said Alisha Beday, the City’s chief election officer.

“We’d like to remind voters that there may be lineups at some of the polls on Saturday and to please be patient and kind to the election workers. They will be working hard to get people their ballots as quickly as possible.”

Heading into general voting day on Saturday, the City is reminding voters that they are not limited to their own neighbourhood and are encouraged to vote at any of the 16 polling locations around the city:

• Aberdeen Elementary School, 2191 Van Horne Drive
• Arthur Hatton Elementary School, 315 Chestnut Avenue
• Arthur Stevenson Elementary School, 2890 Bank Road
• Beattie Elementary School, 492 McGill Road
• Brocklehurst Secondary School, 985 Windbreak Street
• Dallas Elementary School, 296 Harper Road
• Dufferin Elementary School, 1880 Hillside Drive
• Heritage House (Riverside Park), 100 Lorne Street
• Juniper Ridge Elementary School, 2540 Qu’Appelle Boulevard
• Lloyd George Elementary School, 830 Pine Street
• NorKam Secondary School, 730 12th Street
• RL Clemitson Elementary School, 5990 Todd Road
• Ralph Bell Elementary School, 1764 Valleyview Drive
• Rayleigh Elementary School, 306 Puett Ranch Road
• South Sahali Elementary School, 1585 Summit Drive
• Westmount Elementary School, 745 Walkem Road

Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voter registration is done on site at the polling location.

“Electors won’t receive a voter card for the general local election,” said Beday. “If you see a card arrive in the mail, it’s for the separate provincial election on Oct. 24.”

Voters are reminded to bring two pieces of identification to vote. At least one piece of identification must show the voter’s signature, and at least one piece must show the voter’s address. The combined B.C. driver’s licence and B.C. Services card will be considered as one piece of identification.

Following the close of voting at 8 p.m., live preliminary (unofficial) results will be available on Kamloops.ca starting at about 8:30 p.m. The results will continue to be updated throughout the evening as polling locations report to City Hall. Official election results will be declared and released on or before 4 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2026.

For more information regarding the 2026 general local election, visit Kamloops.ca/Election.