Elections

General local elections are held every four years across British Columbia. In Sooke, eligible voters elect:

The next general local election will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

View the statement of persons nominated at this link.

Download a combined PDF with the District of Sooke's Code of Conduct, Election Procedures Bylaw, and Signs Bylaw (including Traffic Bylaw for Signs on District Roadways) here

Please remember that other organizations may have their own rules that you need to follow. For example, the District of Sooke does not place additional restrictions on poles owned by BC Hydro, but BC Hydro do. The District does not enforce rules made by external organizations, but if you are using somebody else's land, objects, or resources, their rules may apply to you, and you should investigate that before you take actions.

Elections are governed by the Local Government Act, Community Charter, and Local Elections Campaign Financing Act. The District of Sooke administers the local election process and appoints a Chief Election Officer to ensure it is fair, transparent, and accessible.

Through general local elections, residents and non-resident property electors choose the representatives who will make decisions and govern on their behalf for the next four-year term.

General local elections are a shared responsibility between local governments and Elections BC.

Learn more about how municipal elections work through the resources below.

The District has received the following nominations, in alphabetical order:

Mayor Elector Organization
 Councillor Elector Organization
Beddows, Al   Belford, Susan Sooke Together
Pearson, Kevin Sooke First Dickinson-Wilde, Nick  
    Dowhy, Noah  
    Evans, Janet Sooke First
    Grams, Landon Kenneth  
    Haldane, Herb Sooke First
    Lazzar, Kyra Juliana  
    Lifton, Elliott Sooke First
    McHattie, Brian James Sooke Together
    Pearce, Rob Sooke First
    Peterec, Curtis Sooke First
    Ritts, Helen Sooke Together
    Sorensen, Steven Sooke Together
    St-Pierre, Tony  
    Strongwind, Katherine  
    Thomas, Christine Sooke First

 

Voting Opportunities

Eligible voters will have several opportunities to vote in the 2026 General Local Election.

Voting opportunity Date Location Voting hours
Advance voting Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Council Chamber, Municipal Hall 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Advance voting Saturday, October 10, 2026 Edward Milne Community School 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Special voting opportunity, for Ayre Manor Residents Only Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Ayre Manor (residents only) 12:30 p.m to 2:30 p.m.
Advance voting Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Council Chamber, Municipal Hall 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
General Voting Day Saturday, October 17, 2026 Edward Milne Community School 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Curbside voting will be available for voters who are unable to enter the voting place. If you require curbside voting, please notify an election official when you arrive or have someone accompany you to the entrance to request assistance.

 

Mail in Voting

Sooke's Elections Bylaw states:

A person wishing to vote by mail ballot must apply by providing their name and address to the chief election officer or to an election official designated by the chief election officer for such purposes, during the period commencing fourteen (14) days before the first day of advance voting, and ending at 4:00 p.m. on the Thursday two days before general voting day.

 

This means that the earliest we can accept mail-in voting requests is September 23rd, 2026. The last time that mail-in ballots can be requested is 4pm on Thursday October 15th.

If you request a mail-in ballot, it is your responsibility to ensure that the ballot is received at a polling place before the close of polls on General Voting Day (October 17th, 2026).

Learn More About Local Elections

Elections in British Columbia are a shared responsibility between local governments and Elections BC. The following resources provide detailed information for voters, candidates, and election officials. 

Notice regarding Advance Voter registration, Voter roll inspection, and seeking candidates

 

For information: Voters at the District of Sooke can either register at the time of voting, or can register in advance. Voter registration in advance can no longer be done, and any eligible voter who is not already registered must register at the time of voting.

The District was required to post notice about the closure of advance voting. Unfortunately, due to a technical error at the Sooke News Mirror, the notice provided was not published. Notice was published in the Victoria Times Colonist, on our website, and at District Hall, along with a subsequent edition of the News Mirror, and the BC Government issued a Ministerial Order (2026-334) exempting the District from the requirement to post advance notice of the close of the register.

Frequently Asked Questions – District of Sooke Elections

The District of Sooke is responsible for administering the local election process in accordance with provincial legislation. This includes appointing a Chief Election Officer, managing voting opportunities, receiving nomination papers, and declaring official results.

The District does not regulate or monitor candidate campaigns, advertisements, or election spending. These matters fall under the jurisdiction of Elections BC.

Most dates for the General Election are set in Provincial law.

Under the Local Government Act, General Voting day will be on October 17, 2026.

Under the same Act, Nominations must open at 9am on September 1st, 2026, and close at 4pm on September 11th, 2026.

Advance Voting is anticipated to take place on Wednesday October 14th, Saturday October 10th, and Wednesday October 7th.

Candidate nomination packages will be available from the District of Sooke during the official nomination period (usually in late summer before the election).

The package includes eligibility information, required forms, and submission instructions.

Completed nomination documents must be submitted to the Chief Election Officer within the official nomination window (9am on September 1 to 4pm on September 11)

The District anticipates that nomination packages will be available starting in August 2026. Nominations cannot be accepted by the District until 9am on September 1st, 2026.

Campaign financing is regulated by Elections BC. If you are opening a campaign bank account and they are requesting nomination papers, please see the Elections BC bank account reference sheet, and their letter to financial institutions.

During the official nomination period, the District of Sooke will post a list of all candidates who have submitted nomination papers and been declared for office.

  • Candidate names, declared positions, and contact information (if provided by the candidate) will be published on this page and in local notices.
  • The District cannot endorse or promote individual candidates and will not link to campaign websites or social media accounts.

Residents are encouraged to attend community-hosted all-candidates meetings or review information shared directly by the candidates.

All-candidates meetings are not organized by the District. They are typically hosted by community groups such as the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce, Sooke Multi-Belief Initiative, or other local organizations.

Event details will be shared publicly by the hosting groups through their own communication channels (for example, their websites, social media, or local news).

All voting opportunities — including advance voting days, mail-ballot options, and general voting day locations — will be published on the District’s website and in local advertising once they are confirmed by the Chief Election Officer.

Yes. Non-resident property electors may be eligible to vote if they meet the criteria outlined in the Local Government Act.

Only one registered owner of the property may vote, and consent from the majority of other owners is required.

Application details will be available once the 2026 election period begins.

Voters are asked to bring two pieces of identification that prove both identity and residency.

At least one piece must include a signature. Examples include a BC Driver’s Licence, BCID, utility bill, or property tax notice.

Preliminary results will be announced after polls close on general voting day and posted to the District’s website.

Official results will be declared by the Chief Election Officer after all ballots are verified — typically within a few days.

Chief Election Officer
District of Sooke
2205 Otter Point Road, Sooke, BC V9Z 1J2
Email: elections@sooke.ca
Phone: 250-642-1634

The District of Sooke hosted a candidate information session on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, for individuals interested in running in the 2026 General Local Election.

The session covered the role of elected officials, the election process, candidate responsibilities, nomination requirements, key dates, the respective roles of Council and staff, and practical considerations for prospective candidates.

Councillor Sara Duncan from the Town of Sidney also shared reflections on her experience serving as an elected official.

A recording of the session is now available on the District's YouTube channel .

Section 86 of the Local Government Act sets the default as two qualified nominators. "Qualified nominator" means someone who is an elector of the District of Sooke. The District of Sooke has not varied the requirement from the Act, therefore only two qualified nominees are required.

An individual nominator may nominate as many candidates as they are persons to be elected. This means that a single qualified nominator may nominate one candidate for Mayor, and up to six candidates for Council.

Notice regarding Advance Voter registration, Voter roll inspection, and seeking candidates

Contact Us

District of Sooke
2205 Otter Point Road
Sooke, BC V9Z 1J2 


Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am – 4:30pm
Phone: 250-642-1634

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