Are you thinking about running for office in October? Well, now’s the time to start thinking about it, as the pre-campaign period began on Monday, July 20.
What is the pre-campaign period? According to Elections BC, election advertising rules come into effect with the start of the pre-campaign period. “Election advertising rules are also in effect during the campaign period, which runs from September 19 until General Voting Day on October 17. Elections BC administers campaign financing and advertising rules in local elections, but does not administer voting, candidate nominations, or other aspects of the process. Elector organizations, prospective candidates and third parties that sponsor election advertising during the pre-campaign or campaign period must include their name and contact information on all of their ads, in addition to other requirements. Third party election advertisers must register with Elections BC.”
During the pre-campaign period, says Elections BC, election advertising is “any public communication that promotes or opposes, directly or indirectly, the election of a candidate or an elector organization endorsing a candidate. During the campaign period, the definition of election advertising also includes communications that take a position on an issue associated with a candidate or elector organization.”
The most important thing that potential candidates will need to do during the pre-campaign period is track campaign expenses, like advertising expenses. This includes printing brochures and posters, signage and (cough cough) newspaper advertising.
People who are interested in running could have attended a Candidate Information session, which happened July 14. Four people attended.
If you were unable to make it to the session, a PDF of the presentation is available at tumblerridgeelection.now, the new website for information on municipal elections in Tumbler Ridge.
The PDF looks at what the roles of the mayor and councillors are, the expectations placed upon them, and how much each makes (spoilers: the mayor makes $32,984.12 a year, while councillors make $14,834.47) as well as rules around where you can put election signage, campaign financing, and other information around the election process.
There are also links to provincial resources for local candidates that covers much of the same ground as the PDF.
In addition to mayor and council, there will be one school board trustee elected for Tumbler Ridge. On the aforementioned election site, there are links to a guide to becoming a school trustee, a video explaining the role of a trustee, and other resources.
It is here where potential candidates can find a digital nomination and information package, which will be available as of August 4. (The package is already available for school district trustees.) Candidates will have just under a month to make up their mind to run, as the nomination period opens September 1, and closes September 11.
Candidates for mayor, councillors, and School District 59 trustee must be nominated by at least two qualified nominators who are eligible electors of Tumbler Ridge. They may chose to withdraw their nomination before September 18, 2026 at 4:00 pm by providing written notice to the Chief Election Officer in person at Town Hall or by email to corporate@dtr.ca.
In addition, the website provides information for potential voters. For local elections in Tumbler Ridge, it says, voters do not register in advance. “Your elector registration is completed when you arrive at the voting place on an Advance Voting Day or on General Voting Day,” says the site. “When you arrive to vote, election officials will complete your registration as part of the voting process. You must provide the required identification and information to confirm your eligibility to vote. All electors must present two pieces of identification at the time of voting. Together they must prove your identity and residential address, and at least one must include your signature.”
It also provides all the other information one might need, like age of voter (18, as of voting day), how long you must have resided in BC (six months), what ID is acceptable (a bunch, including drivers licence, credit card, or PNG bill).
If you’re not going to be in town on voting day, it also discusses how to register for a mail-in ballot.
Finally, if you wanted to assist as a member of the voting team, it outlines the requirements for potential applicants. (Like: did you know you only have to be over the age of 16 to work the election?)
As we get closer to the election date, more information will be added to the website. Of course, it will also be added to ours, at www.tumblerridgelines.com. Municipal elections will be held October 17, 2026.
A screenshot from the District’s new site for information about the upcoming municipal elections. Find it at tumblerridgeelection.now
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
