COQUITLAM, B.C., July 23, 2026 – The City of Coquitlam is looking for community-minded individuals to support the 2026 General Local Election as paid election workers.

Approximately 250 temporary staff will be required to support this fall’s municipal election activities. This includes staff to work at voting places on General Voting Day (Saturday, Oct. 17) as well as advance voting opportunities taking place October 5, 7, 8, 10, 13 and 15. 

An online application form with details and descriptions of positions is available at Election Application. 

Positions Available

Available positions include: 

• Election Officials (Voting Clerk, Machine/Tabulator Attendant, and Greeter) - $24/hr + 4% in lieu
• Alternate Presiding Election Official (supports set-up and clean-up of voting place, supervises staff, covers for breaks) - $34/hr + 4% in lieu
• Presiding Election Official (oversees the voting location, supervises staff, ensures the integrity of the election proceedings) - $38/hr + 4% in lieu
• All staff will be paid $50 for attending one mandatory training session

In addition to the positions listed above, there will be a number of stand-by staff hired to add additional election official staffing during any of the advance voting opportunities and on general voting day. These staff will be paid $50 for attending training and $24/hr + 4% in lieu if deployed.

Eligibility Requirements

Workers must be: 

• 16 years old or older
• Legally allowed to work in Canada (Canadian citizenship not required)
• Comfortable communicating in English (additional languages not necessary but may be considered an asset)
• Able to get to and from the designated voting location
• Available to attend and complete a mandatory training session before the election
• Available to work on their selected day from 7 a.m. to approximately 9 p.m.

Preference may be given to people who live in Coquitlam and have a level of familiarity with Windows-based computers, as well as those who have previous election experience.

Election candidates, candidate representatives or financial agents, and candidate family members are not eligible to be election workers.

Due to Canada Revenue changes, all election workers will be hired as casual City employees (specifically for the purpose of working for the election) and will be required to complete all onboarding documentation.

About the 2026 General Local Election

The General Local Election is on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Eligible voters in Coquitlam will elect one mayor, eight councillors and four school trustees (for School District 43). The City of Coquitlam holds elections in accordance with the Local Government Act, the Community Charter and the School Act. For more information, or to sign up for email updates, visit coquitlam.ca/elections.

To learn more about general elections in BC, visit Elections BC.

Media contact:
Stephanie Nichols
Chief Elections Officer
elections@coquitlam.ca

We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.