Turnout up from 2022 for municipal elections in Nanaimo
Advance voting played a significant part in this year’s election, with approximately 7,000 ballots cast across the two advance polling days. (Photo by Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM)
With election day behind us and the final voting results in, official results for the City of Nanaimo point to an increased voter turnout from 2022’s election.
According to CivicInfoBC, the 2022 Election saw a turnout of 23.9 per cent of registered voters, with 18,664 ballots cast across 12 polls. With a total of 59,320 of remaining registered voters for that election period refraining from the vote. Fast forward four years, the 2026 official final results showed a higher turnout with a total of 25,450 ballots cast, leading to a 31.31 per cent turnout, and an increase in estimated eligible voters.
Sheila Gurrie, director of legislative services and chief election officer for the City of Nanaimo, spoke on this year's turnout.
“ What stood out is, it was noticeably busier than in 2022. Still not the final result of a exceptional turnout that we would have hoped for, but much better than 2022. So, it was noticeable that residents wanted to come out and vote, and I noticed that everything seemed to have gone really smoothly at all of our polling stations, so really happy about that.”
Gurrie said that despite the increase from 2022, participation was generally higher in 2018.
That year was an example of a “change election”, with only two of five incumbents seeing themselves re-elected to council after four controversial years where mayor and council, and city administration often found itself in national headlines.
Advance voting played a significant part in this year’s election, with approximately 7,000 ballots cast across the two advance polling days. Gurrie reflected on the community’s response to advanced voting days.
“ We had 7,000 total over the two days. The first day was 2,400, so the second day was about 4,600. So that was … yeah, the busiest location of any voting day ever that we've had. So it seems like more folks were coming out to either, give some more time before the provincial election and/or trying to beat the lineups, so which then ended up causing a huge lineup. But, yes, most folks seem to wanna get it out of the way this election cycle and, and do it on advanced voting day.”
Gurrie said mail-in ballots were up as well, increasing from 361 in 2022 to 544 in 2026. She also noted curbside voting had an increased use, which lets voters who have difficulty entering a voting location due to a physical disability or impaired mobility, cast their ballots without leaving their vehicle.
Candidates were invited to observe the determination of results Wednesday morning, where election officials review voting machine records, incorporate new registrations and determine the final results. The official count was not far off Saturday's preliminary results. The preliminary results stated a voter turnout of 31.63 per cent, dropping to 31.31 per cent with the official votes in, thanks to new voter registrations having been factored in, to the total number of eligible electors.
With the votes set and mayor and council elected, Gurrie explained what happens next.
“Councils are continuous, so business of the city has to continue. So right now, our current council remains our current council until the new council is sworn in.”
The newly elected mayor and council, with two new members and seven incumbents, will be sworn in during an inaugural council meeting on November 9th at 7 p.m. in the Shaw Auditorium.
Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.
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