B.C. Election 2020: How, where and when to vote
Lynn Mitges • October 8, 2020
Here's what you need to know to register to vote, and cast a ballot either by mail or in person.
Mark Oct. 24 on your calendar to cast your vote in the provincial election. But first, make sure you are registered to vote by Sept. 26.
How do I register to vote?
In order to be eligible, you must be 18 years of age by Oct. 24, a Canadian citizen, and a B.C. resident for the past six months.
If you are already registered from voting in 2017, you should receive a card from Elections B.C. If not, you can update your information by phone at 1-800-661-8683 or online.
You can also download and fill out a form available on the elections.bc.ca website and mail, fax or bring it in person to the Victoria office.
If you register or update your information by phone, you will need to provide your name, date of birth, address and one identification number, such as a driver’s licence number, a B.C. identification card number or social insurance number.
Voter registration closes at 8 p.m. on Sept. 26. Online registration closes at midnight the same day.
How do I vote in person?
Voting in person will look similar to going to the grocery store: wear a mask — although this is not mandatory — and observe social distancing. Voters wearing masks will not be asked to remove them at any point while voting. Voters will be asked to use hand sanitizer before and after casting their ballot. Voters can also bring their own pen or pencil to mark the ballot. Some precautionary measures, such as not handing your identification to the election official, and verbally stating you are eligible to vote instead of signing the registry, will be in place.
Voting will invariably take longer as officials will be cleaning surfaces and protective barriers, and voters will be using hand sanitizer stations. The number of voters at stations will be restricted according to social distancing requirements as well.
Chief electoral officer Anton Boegman sayshe expects voters will spend about the same amountof time it takes to order a cup of coffee at their favourite outletas it will to vote at a polling station.
You’ll be able to update your voter information in person when you vote, but it will take longer than if you do this ahead of time either online or by phone, as outlined above.
How do I vote by mail?
Once you have registered or updated your information, you will need to request a vote-by-mail package. Anyone can vote by mail — the only criterion is that you prefer not to vote in person.
Information will be confirmed shortly by Elections B.C. and you can find out which stations are available, and you can download the Where to Vote app. The information on voting stations is still being updated, so check back.
Vote-by-mail packages must be returned to Elections B.C. by Oct. 24 at 8 p.m., so voters should request the package as soon as possible, vote, then send it off. Voters can also return their completed package in person to any drop-off location which are still being confirmed and will be posted on the website as soon as possible.
Elections B.C. estimates that 35 per cent of voters, about 800,000 people, will choose to vote in the Oct. 24 election using mail-in ballots. The sheer number of mail-in ballots could mean that election results won’t be known for nearly two weeks after election night.
Elections B.C., which has already received 20,000 requests for mail-in ballots, said the mail-in votes won’t be fully counted until Nov. 6.
In 2017, only, 6,500 people opted for mail-in voting.
How can I vote in advance polling?
There will be polling stations set up for advance voting, which will take place from Oct. 15 to 21, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., one more day for voting than there was in 2017. The advance polling includes two weekend days, Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18.
Where do I vote?
You can search for your electoral district by your postal code, the name of the district if you know it, by the candidate’s name, or by using a map. All options are on the Elections B.C. site, which is easy to use and self-explanatory.
There are 87 electoral districts in the province. If you need any assistance, call 1-800-661-8683.
SURREY, BC – Decade-high inventory and softer prices failed to spark buyer demand in the Fraser Valley in 2025. Despite favourable conditions and increased negotiating power, many buyers stayed on the sidelines, making it one of the slowest years for sales in decades. The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board recorded 12,224 sales on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in 2025, a decline of 16 per cent over 2024 and 33 per cent below the 10-year average. The City of Surrey accounted for the majority of 2025 sales at 48 per cent, with Langley and Abbotsford accounting for 24 per cent and 16 per cent respectively. On the supply side, buyers had more choice than at any point in the past four decades, as new listings climbed to 37,963. The composite Benchmark home price in the Fraser Valley closed the year at $905,900, down six per cent year-over-year, and down 24 per cent from the peak in March 2022.
The number of court-ordered sales in Metro Vancouver is jumping, and may continue to grow as a mortgage renewal wave hits Canada five years after the pandemic-era real estate frenzy. Court-ordered inventory, while less than one per cent of the market, totalled 119 properties in the Vancouver region in October 2025, compared with 66 in October 2024 and 28 in October 2023, according to real estate website Zealty.ca (Zealty Online Search Inc.). Foreclosures are becoming more frequent because home prices are correcting, unemployment is rising and people who bought during the pandemic are having to renew their mortgages at higher interest rates, said Adam Major, managing broker with Sechelt-based Holywell Properties. There was a massive increase in home sales from late 2020 through 2022, he said. “This was the height of COVID craziness when [Bank of Canada governor] Tiff Macklem promised rates would stay low forever, the government was sending everyone free money and we all wanted a bigger house to work from home in,” he said. Those homes were financed at rock-bottom interest rates, with the central bank’s policy rate sitting at 0.25 per cent from March 2020 to March 2022. Because Canadian banks generally offer maximum terms of five years, it’s now time for many to pay the piper—at interest rates higher than what some can afford. “It is definitely a bad sign for the market as we are only at the beginning of the big mortgage renewal wave,” Major said. The most sales ever in a month in the region were the 5,715 sales in March 2021, he said. “Those buyers will have to renew this coming March. The number of renewals will stay elevated for a year after that. The average discount mortgage rate in March 2021 was 1.69 per cent versus about 3.79 per cent now, so almost everyone who bought in 2021 and 2022 will be paying significantly more on renewal,” he said. 👉 Read the Article Here
In this episode of Andy Talks Real Estate, I break down the November Fraser Valley real estate market and explain what the numbers actually mean if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home. This market has slowed as we head into the holiday season. Inventory is contracting. Sales are down. Prices have softened after several months of gradual decline. And that shift is creating very different opportunities depending on which side of the market you’re on. For Buyers: Buyers are firmly in control right now. You have more choice, more time, and the ability to negotiate properly. Conditions are back Home inspections matter Financing protection matters Time to make informed decisions Based on what I’m seeing, this buyer-friendly environment is likely to carry into early 2026. For Sellers This is not a market where you can rely on last year’s pricing or momentum. Accurate pricing is critical Professional preparation matters Strong marketing makes the difference Strategy beats waiting Homes that are positioned correctly are selling. Homes that miss the mark are sitting. Market Context The data comes directly from the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, including: Sales activity New listings Months of inventory Housing Price Index trends Langley-specific market shifts The market feels more like a buyer’s market than a balanced one when you’re out touring homes. Looking Ahead There are early signs of pent-up demand, particularly among buyers with insured mortgage pre-approvals. January and February may stay quieter Activity is likely to build into late winter and spring Preparation is the advantage Have a plan. Know your options. Move when the timing is right for you.
