Vancouver has two October elections. Don't let the local one disappear.

Vancouver votes on Saturday, October 17. One week later, on October 24, British Columbia chooses a new legislature in a provincial election called September 22. The campaigns overlap, which makes it easy to lose track of which vote is when.

Here's the slightly confusing part. Elections BC calls the provincial and local votes “separate electoral events.” Each has its own voting places, eligibility rules and calendar. The easiest detail to miss: October 17, Vancouver's local election day, is also a provincial advance voting day.

What is at stake on each ballot?

On October 17, Vancouver voters choose a mayor, ten councillors, seven Park Board commissioners and nine school trustees. They also answer three questions about City borrowing and two non-binding plebiscite questions. That is a lot to decide in one local election. Council will make choices about street design, land use, services and budgets that residents encounter long after the provincial campaign ends. The City's ballot guide sets out the full list.

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On October 24, provincial voters choose an MLA for their electoral district. The Province makes decisions on health care, education, housing rules and funding that can change what local governments are able to do. Housing and transport promises cross the boundary: Council controls many zoning and street decisions, while provincial law and funding can shape the choices available locally.

Side Street's view: the provincial election deserves serious attention, and so does the one a week earlier. We don't want an unexpected provincial campaign to turn the municipal vote into a footnote. A Vancouver crossing that needs fixing, a bus that needs a better street, a school board decision or a park budget will still be here on October 25. Local candidates should have to answer for those choices now.

Two voting plans, even on the same Saturday

Vancouver's advance voting days are October 3, 7, 10 and 13; local election day is October 17. The provincial advance period runs October 16 to 21; its final voting day is October 24. If you vote in both elections on October 17, follow the City's local voting-place guide and Elections BC's provincial guide separately. A local voting place is not automatically a provincial one.

Mail voting works differently in each election. For a Vancouver ballot, check the City's pickup and return instructions; the City must receive the completed ballot by 8 p.m. October 17. Elections BC says October 18 is the last day to request a provincial package online or by phone, and it must receive the completed ballot by 8 p.m. October 24. Provincial mail-voting instructions

For the local candidates and the five ballot questions, start with Side Street's Vancouver election primer and the candidate and party guide. For the provincial race, use Elections BC to find your district, candidates and voting place.

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