Local communities prepare for Oct. 17 local elections
Rossland is recruiting paid election workers as municipalities and regional districts prepare for advance voting and the general election.
Rossland City Hall. The city is recruiting election workers as communities across the Boundary and West Kootenay prepare for the Oct. 17 general local election.
File photo
Local election season is entering its next phase across the Kootenay-Boundary, with the regular nomination period set to close at 4 p.m. Friday and communities putting the people, polling places and procedures in place for the Oct. 17 general local election.
The City of Rossland put out a call Friday for election workers, offering $25 an hour for people who can help welcome and direct voters, issue ballots and support operations at voting places. Training is provided and previous election experience is not required, with flexible shifts available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. during advance voting and general voting day.
Rossland has scheduled advance voting for Oct. 7 and 14, followed by general voting day on Saturday, Oct. 17. People interested in working the election are being asked to contact elections@rossland.ca. The city's notice does not state an application deadline or how many workers are needed.
Rossland is not alone in bringing in temporary staff to help administer the vote. The City of Greenwood recruited multiple election officials earlier this summer at $24 an hour plus four per cent vacation pay. The positions included mandatory paid training, with assignments potentially including advance voting Oct. 7 and general voting Oct. 17.
Greenwood advised applicants that voting-day assignments could run from approximately 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. or later, depending on the time required to count ballots and complete closing duties. The application deadline for those positions was Aug. 28.
The staffing preparations come as the regular nomination period for B.C.'s 2026 general local elections reaches its end. Nominations opened Sept. 1 and close at 4 p.m. Sept. 11, with general voting taking place Oct. 17.
Local governments are responsible for accepting nominations, conducting voting, counting ballots and reporting results. Elections BC is responsible for administering campaign finance and election advertising rules.
Across the Boundary, voters will be choosing representatives at both the municipal and regional district levels.
Grand Forks voters will elect one mayor and six councillors, while Midway voters will choose one mayor and four councillors. Both communities are preparing for the Oct. 17 vote as the nomination period comes to a close.
Rural voters within the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary will elect five electoral area directors, representing Area A, Area B/Lower Columbia-Old Glory, Area C/Christina Lake, Area D/Rural Grand Forks and Area E/West Boundary.
The RDKB has scheduled advance voting for Oct. 7 and general voting for Oct. 17, with voting open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both days. As of Sept. 11, the regional district was still listing its voting locations as to be determined.
Communities across the West Kootenay are preparing for the same Oct. 17 election.
Rossland elects a mayor and six councillors, while Trail voters will choose a mayor and six councillors along with two School District 20 trustees. Trail has scheduled advance voting for Oct. 7 and 14 before general voting on Oct. 17.
Castlegar will also hold advance voting Oct. 7 and 14 at the Castlegar and District Community Complex, followed by general voting at the same location Oct. 17.
The city is also administering the election for School District 20 Trustee Electoral Area 2, which includes Castlegar and part of Regional District of Central Kootenay Electoral Area J.
Nelson voters will elect a mayor, six councillors and two School District 8 trustees. Advance voting there will take place Oct. 7 and 14 at city hall, while general voting will be held Oct. 17 at the Prestige Lakeside Resort and Convention Centre.
Montrose voters will elect a mayor and four councillors. The village has scheduled three advance-voting opportunities, on Oct. 7, 15 and 16, before general voting on Oct. 17.
Candidate names are already appearing on Elections BC's provincial list, which is updated daily and includes information received from local jurisdictions within the previous 48 hours. The regular nomination period closes at 4 p.m. Sept. 11, but that will not necessarily settle every race. Elections BC lists Sept. 19 as the beginning of the campaign period and Oct. 17 as general voting day.
Under the Local Government Act, the nomination period must be extended when fewer candidates have come forward than there are positions to fill. Nominations can also be challenged after the regular nomination period, while candidates may withdraw until 4 p.m. Sept. 18.
Once those processes are complete, local chief election officers determine which contests will proceed to voting and which candidates will be elected by acclamation.
The campaign period begins Sept. 19 and continues through general voting day on Oct. 17.
A historic mine opening near Rossland’s Kootenay Columbia Trail will be permanently sealed, with a three-week trail closure beginning Sept. 28 so crews can complete the work.