Your Vote, Your Voice: A Simple Guide to Voting in Coquitlam

lientran002

Oct 4

4 min read

Tomorrow, the first ballots go in the box

Tomorrow morning, the first Coquitlam voters will walk into a community centre, show their ID, and mark a ballot. No campaign speech. No algorithm choosing for you. Just you, a ballot, and a choice. That choice is yours, and it's one of the most direct ways to have a say in what kind of city you want to live in. This guide will get you from "I'm not sure how this works" to "I know exactly where I'm going."

VOTING STARTS on Monday, October 5 · 8 am to 8 pm Town Centre Park Community Centre, 1207 Pinetree Way Want a mail ballot sent to you? The application deadline is Monday, October 5 at 12 pm (noon).

When and where to vote

You don't need a reason to vote in advance. All advance voting is from 8 am to 8 pm.

Date	Where
Mon, Oct 5	Town Centre Park Community Centre, 1207 Pinetree Way
Wed, Oct 7	Centennial Pavilion, 620 Poirier Street
Thu, Oct 8	Town Centre Park Community Centre, 1207 Pinetree Way
Sat, Oct 10	Town Centre Park Community Centre; Centennial Pavilion; Victoria Community Hall, 3435 Victoria Drive
Tue, Oct 13	Centennial Pavilion, 620 Poirier Street
Thu, Oct 15	Centennial Pavilion, 620 Poirier Street
Sat, Oct 17: General Voting Day	Any of the City's 23 voting locations, 8 am to 8 pm

All voting locations are wheelchair accessible. Coquitlam does not send out "where to vote" cards, so check the City's voting-locations page: coquitlam.ca/elections.

Who can vote

You can vote if you are:

18 or older on or before General Voting Day
A Canadian citizen
A resident of B.C. for at least six months immediately before registering
A resident of Coquitlam
Not disqualified by law from voting

If you own property in Coquitlam but don't live here, you may qualify as a non-resident property elector. Different rules apply, including owning the property for at least 30 days before registering, and you should contact the Election Office (604-927-3025) before you go to vote. Details: coquitlam.ca/1197/Voter-Information.

The advance registration deadline was August 18. If you didn't register in advance, you can still register at the voting place. Bring your ID.

What to bring

At least two documents that together show who you are and where you live. At least one must have your signature. The City's examples include a BC Care Card, BC driver's licence, birth certificate, or a City of Coquitlam property tax notice. More examples are on the City's Voter Information page.

What's on your ballot

You'll vote for one mayor, eight councillors and four school trustees. School trustees serve the School District 43 board, which is separate from City Council. For councillors, you can vote for up to eight. You don't have to use all eight choices. If you make a mistake, ask a staff member for help before you hand in your ballot.

Five steps at the voting place

Go to any voting location open that day (advance voting has set locations).
Show your ID. Staff will check your name on the voters list, or help you register.
Get your ballot.
Mark your ballot privately. Your vote is secret.
Hand it in as the election staff direct, and you're done. It usually takes only a few minutes.

Can't make it in person? Vote by mail

New this year, any eligible voter can apply to vote by mail. The deadline to apply for a mail ballot package to be mailed to you is Monday, October 5 at 12 pm (noon). After that, you can still apply, but the package must be picked up from the Election Office at Coquitlam City Hall, 3000 Guildford Way.

Apply online or in person at City Hall: coquitlam.ca/1496/Mail-Ballot-Voting. Your completed mail ballot must be received by the City by 8 pm on Saturday, October 17, 2026 to be counted. If you're returning it by mail, allow plenty of time for delivery, or drop it off at City Hall.

Questions? Call the Election Office

604-927-3025, City Hall, 2nd floor (City Clerk's Office), weekdays 8 am to 5 pm.

Why your choice matters

In Coquitlam's 2022 election, 20,668 of 101,649 eligible voters cast a ballot, a turnout of 20.33%. That's roughly one in five eligible voters, which means roughly four out of five did not cast a ballot. This election is one of the clearest opportunities residents have to choose who will help make decisions about how Coquitlam grows and how local services are delivered. Your vote is not just a tick in a box. It's your voice:

It's yours alone. You decide how to vote.
It's private. You mark your ballot privately.
It's local. The people you elect will help make decisions that affect your neighbourhood, your community and the services you use.

Not sure who to choose? You don't need to know everything

You don't need to be an expert, just curious. Try these steps:

Read about the candidates on the City's election page, and on their own websites and social media.
Ask each candidate five questions:
- Do they understand the job?
- What problem are they trying to solve?
- How would they pay for it?
- What evidence is it based on?
- How would they work with the rest of Council?
Think about what matters most to you: housing, getting around, safety, families, the environment, or something else.
Choose for yourself. You don't have to agree with every answer. You deserve to understand it before you decide.

Whoever you choose, please choose

Whether you vote tomorrow, next week, by mail, or on Saturday, Oct 17, you're part of the story of our city. Your voice is only heard if you use it.