Vernon’s municipal election participation increased, but still lowest in the region

Vernon saw the turnout for the municipal election increase this year, although it was still the lowest in the North Okanagan.

Results of the 2026 local general election showed that 10,451 of the estimated 40,664 eligible voters within Vernon cast a vote for mayor, council and school trustees.

That represented a turnout of 25.7 per cent, which was up from 2022 when only 24.4 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot, despite that year also having a referendum to borrow for the Active Living Centre. Though marking an increase this past election’s turnout was still below the record 33.5 per cent in 2014.

While there was an increase in voter participation in Vernon, there was higher turnout in every other jurisdiction within the North Okanagan.