Vancouver Mayoral Election Sees 60 Percent Advance Voting Surge
Incumbent Mayor Ken Sim faces a crowded field of challengers as Vancouver voters prepare for the October 17 election amid record early turnout.
Vancouver voters will head to the polls on Saturday, Oct. 17, for a mayoral election marked by a significant increase in early engagement. Advance voting surged by 60 percent compared to 2022, with over 103,000 ballots cast. This spike follows the expansion of voting locations from 22 to 60 and a doubled election budget of $9.4 million.
Ken Sim, the incumbent mayor representing the right-of-centre ABC Vancouver party, is campaigning for a second term. He faces a primary challenge from Green Councillor Pete Fry, who positions himself as a viable alternative to the current administration. Other candidates, including Rebecca Bligh, Kareem Allam, and Colleen Hardwick, have rejected the label of spoiler and claim the race remains open.
The election includes two non-binding plebiscite questions. Voters will decide on the prohibition of open-air hard drug use in public spaces and the potential conversion of portions of the old St. Paul's hospital into a secure medical facility.
