Campbell River Identifies Ballot Instruction Error in School District 72 Trustee Election

CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C., October 9, 2026 – Election officials in Campbell River have identified an error in ballot instructions used during advance voting for the School District 72 school trustee election, raising concerns that some ballots cast on October 7 may be declared invalid.

The issue was discovered after voting had already begun at an advance polling opportunity administered by the City of Campbell River. Officials subsequently began providing verbal instructions to voters to ensure ballots were completed correctly.

According to the City, some ballots submitted before the error was identified could be considered invalid for the school trustee portion of the election. Any ballots determined to be invalid would not be included in the final trustee election results.

The City has contacted provincial authorities seeking a ministerial order to address the situation and protect the integrity of the electoral process.

Ballot Instruction Error Raises Concerns Over Trustee Votes

The ballot instruction error occurred during advance voting on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, for the School District 72 trustee election.

Election officials discovered that the instructions provided on ballots were incorrect after voters had begun casting their votes. Once the problem was identified, officials took immediate steps to verbally explain the correct voting procedure to those participating.

However, ballots completed before the correction may not meet the requirements for valid votes in the trustee election.

The City has not disclosed how many ballots may be affected or confirmed whether any votes will ultimately be excluded from the official results.

Mail-In Voters Advised to Select No More Than Five Candidates

Campbell River residents who have received mail-in ballots but have not yet submitted them are being reminded to select no more than five candidates for School District 72 trustee positions.

The clarification is intended to help voters complete their ballots correctly and avoid potential issues during the counting process.

Election officials have emphasized that the identified problem relates specifically to the school trustee election and does not affect every component of the local government voting process.

Mayor, Council and Regional District Voting Remain Unaffected

The City confirmed that the ballot instruction issue is limited to the October 7 advance voting opportunity for School District 72 trustees conducted in Campbell River, along with the related mail-voting instructions.

Other electoral contests remain unaffected.

Advance and mail voting for the 2026 City of Campbell River mayoral and council elections are not impacted by the error.

Similarly, voting on the Strathcona Regional District assent question remains unaffected.

Advance voting for School District 72 trustees conducted at other locations is also not affected by the identified problem.

This distinction is important for residents participating in multiple electoral contests, as the potential ballot validity concerns apply only to the specified school trustee voting process.

Provincial Ministries Asked to Address Election Issue

Following the discovery, officials contacted British Columbia’s Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs and Ministry of Education and Child Care.

The City has requested a ministerial order to address the ballot instruction error and its possible implications for the trustee election.

A ministerial order could provide formal direction on how the situation should be handled under the applicable election framework. However, the City has not announced what specific measures may be authorized or whether previously submitted ballots will be affected.

Election Officials Await Provincial Response

Officials responsible for administering the School District 72 election have committed to continuing all necessary measures to ensure voting proceeds in accordance with governing legislation and applicable election bylaws.

Maintaining public confidence in the election process remains a central priority as authorities determine how to address the issue.

The City said it will provide further information once the provincial ministries respond to the request for a ministerial order.

Campbell River Voters Await Further Election Guidance

The ballot instruction error introduces uncertainty for some residents who participated in the October 7 advance vote, particularly those who completed their ballots before election officials began issuing corrected verbal instructions.

For voters who have yet to return their mail ballots, the immediate guidance remains unchanged: select no more than five School District 72 trustee candidates.

The City has acknowledged that residents may have questions about the situation and has requested patience while officials work toward a resolution.

Further announcements are expected to clarify how potentially affected ballots will be handled and whether additional administrative measures will be required before the trustee election results are finalized.