Vancouver,April 3, 2025: Vancouver’s byelection is already setting records, with 7,671 votes cast in just two days of advance polling. Additionally, 6,400 mail-in ballots were requested, marking a significant increase compared to previous elections.
“Advance voting opportunities in the Vancouver byelection have shattered previous records so far,” said Natti Schmid, the city’s elections communications and outreach manager. The city’s decision to hold advance voting exclusively at city hall on March 26 and April 1 led to a surge in participation. The first day saw 2,876 ballots cast, while the second day recorded 4,795—both exceeding the previous record of approximately 2,500 votes at a single location.
The byelection was triggered by the resignations of Coun. Adriane Carr (Green Party of Vancouver) and Coun. Christine Boyle (OneCity). The vote, coming 2.5 years into the current council’s four-year term, is being closely watched as a referendum on the ruling ABC Vancouver party’s policies on public safety, fiscal management, and urban development.
Mail-in voting has also seen a dramatic increase. Since March 18, 6,400 voters requested mail-in ballots—far surpassing the 647 requests in 2017, when eligibility was more restricted. However, the total number of returned mail-in ballots remains unknown.
So far, advance voting turnout accounts for 1.67% of eligible voters, while mail-in ballot requests make up about 1.4% of the electorate. In the 2022 general election, 7,235 vote-by-mail packages were returned, representing 1.5% of the total vote.
General voting day on April 5 will see 25 polling stations open across the city from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The race, which includes 13 candidates vying for two council seats, is expected to generate greater voter interest than the 2017 byelection, when only 11% of eligible voters participated.
“The strong participation in this byelection so far is a powerful testament to Vancouverites’ commitment to shaping our community’s future,” Schmid added. With voter engagement surpassing expectations, this byelection could mark a shift in civic participation trends in Vancouver.
