Surrey Advance Voting Surges 47 Percent in 2026 Election
Surrey Chief Election Officer Gib van Ert reported 52,600 advance votes, a 47 percent increase over 2022 figures, ahead of the October 17 final voting day.
The city of Surrey recorded 52,600 advance votes for its 2026 civic election, marking a 47 percent increase over the 35,713 votes cast in 2022. To accommodate the surge, the city expanded its advance voting sites from six to 10 locations. The Coverdale Recreation Centre emerged as the busiest site with 9,068 votes, while the highest single-day turnout occurred on October 10 with 15,391 voters.
Gib van Ert, the Chief Election Officer, noted that these early ballots represent approximately 15 percent of the city's 352,148 registered voters. He described the figures as high but stated it is currently unknowable if this trend indicates higher overall turnout or if voters simply shifted their timing from the general voting day.
The final voting day on October 17 utilizes 52 polling sites to elect a mayor, eight city councillors, and six school board trustees. This civic process coincides with a snap provincial general election, though officials have not yet determined if the overlap influenced voter behavior.
