Elections

Local government elections are held every four years, providing residents with an opportunity to elect representatives who will serve their community. 

On election day, qualified voters cast ballots for the candidates they want to serve the municipality. The Village of Nakusp is responsible for administering the election and sharing information about when, where, and how residents can vote. 

The general local election will take place on October 17, 2026, with an advance voting opportunity available on October 7, 2026, in the Auditorium at the Nakusp & District Sports Complex (300 8th Ave NW).

For those interested in becoming an elected official, the Village has created a "Candidate Guide." This guide outlines key information, including roles and responsibilities, expected time commitments, meeting procedures, and other important details. Additionally, the Village will host two in-person sessions for the public to attend, ask questions, and have conversations with the Chief Administrative Officer about what it means to serve on Council. 

Nomination packages could be picked up in the Village Office from Tuesday, July 28, 2026 to Friday, September 11, 2026 during regular business hours. 

Candidate Guide

To run for a seat at the Council table, candidates must meet certain eligibility criteria set by the Province of British Columbia. A person running for Council does not need to live in or own property in the local government where they are running for office. However, they do need to meet the following criteria:

• Be 18 years of age or older on general voting day (October 17, 2026); 
• Be a Canadian citizen; 
• Have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months (March 10, 2026) immediately before filing nomination documents; and
• Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election in British Columbia or from being nominated for, being elected to or holding office, or be otherwise disqualified by law. 

What makes a person ineligible to run for office in a general local election? The following list identifies what makes a person disqualified:

• Have been convicted of and sentenced for an indictable offence and are in custody
• Have been found guilty of an election offence, such as intimidation or vote-buying, are prohibited from holding office
• Are judges of the Provincial Court, the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal
• Are involuntarily confined to a psychiatric facility or other institution
• Have been disqualified for a specified reason, such as failing to:
  • File a candidate disclosure statement in a previous election
  • Make an oath of office
  • Attend local government meetings in the manner and frequency required by the Community Charter
• Been disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election in British Columbia or from being nominated for, being elected to or holding the office, or being otherwise disqualified by law. 

Links

Province of BC – Candidate Eligibility

Elections BC - Candidate Information

The nomination period is the only time during the election process when the Chief Election Officer can accept nomination documents from people seeking a seat in an elected office. A nominee officially becomes a Candidate when they have submitted all the required information in the nomination package and have been declared a candidate by the Chief Election Officer. 

Nomination Period:

Begins at 9:00 AM on the 46^th day before General Voting Day (Oct. 17, 2026), which is Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

Ends at 4:00 PM on the 36^th day before General Voting Day (Oct. 17, 2026), which is Friday, September 11, 2026.   

What happens if you submit a Nomination package and then change your mind? A withdrawal form must be signed and submitted to the Chief Elections Officer within the legislative timeline. 

Withdrawal Period:

By 4:00 PM on the 29^th day before the General Voting Day (Oct. 17, 2026), which is Friday, September 18, 2026.

Map of Village Boundaries

An eligible elector, another nominee for office, or the Chief Election Officer can challenge a prospective candidate’s nomination if they believe the nomination documents are incorrect or the person is not otherwise eligible to be nominated for office

Nomination documents are available for public inspection in the Village Office during regular office hours from the time they are submitted until 30 days after the election results have been declared. 

Who Can Nominate? 

Each candidate must be nominated by ten (10) electors from within the jurisdiction where the candidate is seeking to be elected. This means a candidate must have ten (10) nominators who are residents of the Village of Nakusp. See accordion item below for the Map of Village Boundaries. 

Nomination Documents

Nomination packages are ready for you to pick up in the Village Office during regular business hours and remain available until the nomination period ends. Nomination documents must be submitted to the Chief Election Officer or their designate. 

Regular Office Hours: Monday to Friday 8 AM – 4 PM.

The Nomination Package includes several documents; however, the following must be returned for it to be considered complete. As indicated by an asterisk, this form is not required if the application serves as its own financial agent.

• Candidate Cover Sheet and Checklist Form C1 (CS1) – Not available for public inspection
• Nomination Documents C2 (CS2) – Available for public inspection
• Other Information Provided by Candidate C3 (CS3) – Not available for public inspection
• *Appointment of Candidate Financial Agent C4 (CS4) – Not available for public inspection
• Statement of Disclosure – Available for public inspection 

An election campaign is a coordinated series of actions, such as advertising, canvassing, holding meetings, and giving speeches, designed to elect a candidate(s) to elected office. 

An election campaign can involve communicating with the electorate through:

• Public appearances and speeches
• Advertisements
• Social Media 
• Signs
• Mail inserts and newsletters
• Stickers and buttons

For more information about election campaigns, check out the below link! 

Election Campaigns

There are a number of advertising and campaign financing disclosure requirements that candidates must follow before, during, and after general local elections. 

Campaign financing and advertising rules under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act create accountability and transparency around campaign contributions received and election expenses incurred during general local elections, by-elections and assent voting events. 

Pre-Campaign Period starts July 20, 2026 (89 days before general voting day) 
Pre-Campaign Period ends September 19, 2026 (28 days before general voting day) 

Campaign Period starts September 19, 2026 (28 days before general voting day) 

Election Advertising and Campaign Financing Rules

Elections BC Guide to Campaign Financing for Local Candidates and Financial Agents in BC

Did you know that there are two categories that general local election offences fall into? They are:

1. General Election Offences committed under the Local Government Act; or,
2. Campaign Financing Offences committed under the Local Election Campaign Financing Act. 

General Election Offences

Election offences are typically dealt with by the Supreme Court of BC, and penalties can be imposed on individuals and/or elector organizations.  

Activities considered general election offences include vote-buying, intimidation, providing or distributing false information, and contravening voting provisions. Other election offences include:

• Falsely withdrawing a candidate or an endorsement
• Fraudulently voting
• Interfering with ballots or ballot boxes
• Canvassing, advertising or otherwise visibly supporting a candidate within 100 meters of a voting place during voting proceedings
• Conducting any other activity contrary to the Local Government Act. 

Campaign Financing Offences

Campaign financing offences refer to contraventions of the rules under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act. These types of offences may be committed by candidates, financial agents, elector organizations, and third-party sponsors. These offences are managed by Elections BC, and penalties may be imposed as determined by the Supreme Court of BC. 

For more information on General Election Offences and Campaign Financing Offences, please review the following webpages. 

BC Provincial Government General Local Elections Offences

Local Elections Campaign Financing Act

Local Government Act, Part 3 - Electors and Elections

Local Governments are required to follow a legislated process when conducting general local elections and by-elections to fill vacancies on municipal councils or regional district boards between general local elections. 

Village of Nakusp Election and Assent Voting Bylaw No. 759, 2026

Candidates - Key Dates

Voting Opportunities

General voting day is usually the most publicized voting opportunity for resident and non-resident property electors to cast their ballots in a local election. Local governments must also hold at least one advance voting opportunity. 

Many local governments offer additional advance voting opportunities, which are set out in their election bylaws if available, along with special voting opportunities.

Village of Nakusp Voting Opportunities

The Advance and General Election Voting days are coming quickly. To help you prepare for the election, check out the following information.  

Who May Vote

• Be a resident elector (live within the Nakusp municipal boundaries) or a non-resident property elector at the time of voting.
• Be registered as an elector of the municipality. Registration takes place on the day of voting.
• Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or be otherwise disqualified by law.
• Must be 18 years of age or older on the day of registration.
• Be a Canadian citizen.
• Must be a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration.

Non-Resident Property Electors

• Including the above rules, have been a registered owner of real property in the municipality for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration. 

Restrictions for Non-Resident Property Electors

• If more than one individual owns the property, only one owner can register, and that person must have the written consent of a majority of the individual owners.
  • A person owning property in a company name (numbered or otherwise) is not eligible to vote as a non-resident property elector.

Counting Ballots

Ballot counting begins after voting places close at 8:00 PM local time on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The majority of ballots cast by eligible electors determines the successful candidate for a given office. Candidates are entitled to have one scrutineer who may watch as the ballots are counted. 

Announcing Election Results

The official election results may not necessarily be announced on General Voting Day – the Chief Election Officer may announce preliminary results after concluding the ballot count on General Voting Day and announce the official results at a later date.

The official election results must be declared within four days after the close of voting on General Voting Day. The Chief Election Officer must state the number of ballots cast in favor of each candidate for each position. 

Most local governments post the election results on their websites, and they are also posted on Civic Info BC.

To view Election results, including the results from prior Election years, please visit this link: 
CivicInfoBC Election Results

The Village of Nakusp will hold an election to fill four (4) Councillor offices.

Declaration of Election by Voting

The following candidate was elected by acclamation for the office of Mayor.

Declaration of Election by Acclamation

Mayor Tom Zeleznik 
Mayor - Tom Zeleznik