Elections BC

Responsibilities

Elections BC is a non-partisan office of the British Columbia Legislature responsible for conducting provincial elections, local elections, by-elections, petitions, referendums, and plebiscites in British Columbia. Elections BC compiles and maintains a list of eligible voters as well as sets and adjusts the boundaries of electoral districts.

Elections BC is also responsible for regulating campaign financing and advertising and the registration of political parties. To retain their official status, political parties must file annual financial reports with Elections BC. Registration entitles parties to have their name on the ballot where they run candidates, issue tax receipts and spend on election campaigns. , 22 political parties are registered in British Columbia.

In advance of elections, a district electoral officer (DEO) and a deputy district electoral officer (DDEO) represent Elections BC in each electoral district and establish a temporary office to conduct the election, often shortly before the writ of election is dropped by the government.

Elections BC is subject to the following legislation: Election Act (1996), Financial Disclosure Act (1996), Local Government Act (1996), the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act (2014)., and the Recall and Initiative Act (1996).

Scheduled election dates

British Columbia was the first province to legislate fixed dates for elections. The next provincial election is set for October 21, 2028.

There have been instances where the province breaks from scheduled elections, most recently for the 2020 election, which was called by Premier John Horgan on September 21, 2020, and took place on October 24, 2020.

Referendums

In 2015, Elections BC spent $5,372,380 to administer the 2015 Metro Vancouver Transportation and Transit Plebiscite, a cost of about $3.44 per voter. A total of 1,572,861 voting packages were issued and 798,262 (51 per cent) returned to Elections BC. About 62 per cent of Metro Vancouver voters rejected a proposal for a half-per-cent sales tax increase to fund a 10-year, $7.5-billion upgrade to transportation by TransLink. About 290,000 voted yes, while 467,000 voted no. About 38,393 ballot packages received by deadline were rejected because they did not meet the requirements of the plebiscite.

Candidacy fees and requirements

A candidate is required under the Election Act to gather the signatures of 75 valid voters in their electoral district. A nomination deposit of $250 per candidate is required. Candidates who receive 15 per cent of the total vote receive a full refund. All others forfeit the deposit.

Chief electoral officers

Upon being appointed as chief electoral officer, the person is required to forfeit their right to vote in elections they oversee. They may not be a member of a political party or contribute to candidate campaigns. There have been eight chief electoral officers of Elections BC (seven men and one woman).

Election expenses

Note: Enumeration or voter registration expenses were included in total election expenses up to the 2001 election. As of 2005, Elections BC excluded enumeration expenses from its calculation of total election expenses.

Candidates per election

References

References

1. [http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/EBC-AnnualReport-0708.pdf Elections BC 2007-2008 Annual Report]
2. (April 30, 2008). "What We Do".
3. "Election Act".
4. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/fin/Registered-Political-Parties-Information.pdf Registered Political Parties
5. "Table of Contents - Election Act".
6. "Financial Disclosure Act".
7. "Laws Publications - Government".
8. "Local Elections Campaign Financing Act".
9. "Table of Contents - Recall and Initiative Act".
10. "British Columbians heading to the polls on October 24 in fall election". Global News.
11. (September 22, 2015). "Elections B.C. says transit referendum cost $5.4 million". [[The Georgia Straight]].
12. (September 22, 2015). "Elections BC to review rejection of more than 38,000 Transit Plebiscite ballots". [[The Vancouver Sun]].
13. "Laws Publications - Government".
14. "Laws Publications - Government".
15. (April 30, 2008). "The Chief Electoral Officer".
16. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/1996-SOVGeneralElection.pdf General Election Report 1996
17. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2001GEResults/2001-SOVGeneralElection.pdf General Election Results 2001
18. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2001_arep.pdf Elections BC Annual Report 2001
19. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/ceofin2001.pdf Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the 37th Provincial General Election
20. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2005GEResults/SOV-GEcomplete.pdf Elections BC, Statement of Votes, 38th Provincial General Election, May 17, 2005
21. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2005-CEOreportRefOnElectoralReform.pdf Report of the Chief Electoral Officer, 38th Provincial General Election, 2005 Referendum on Electoral Reform, May 17, 2005
22. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2005-TargetedEnumeration.pdf Report of the Chief Electoral Officer, Targeted Enumeration and Voter Registration
23. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2009EnumerationReport.pdf Elections BC, Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the 2009 Enumeration
24. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2013-General-Election-Report.pdf Elections BC, Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the 40th Provincial General Election, May 14, 2013
25. "2017 Provincial General Election - Report of the Chief Electoral Officer".
26. (July 27, 2021). "Report of the Chief Electoral Officer — 42nd Provincial General Election".
27. (May 27, 2025). "Report of the Chief Electoral Officer — 43rd Provincial General Election — Volume I: Administration".
28. (September 24, 2025). "Report of the Chief Electoral Officer — 43rd Provincial General Election — Volume II: Financing and Expenses".
29. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/96_arep.pdf Elections BC 1995/1996 Annual Report
30. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/0405AnnualReport.pdf Elections BC Annual Report 2004/2005
31. "". link
32. "Your Candidates for the 2009 Provincial General Election {{!}} Elections BC".
33. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/0809-Annual-Report.pdf Elections BC Annual Report 2008/2009
34. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/AR1213SP1316.pdf Elections BC Annual Report 2012/2013