(Campbell River, BC) - The official results of the School District 72 school trustee election will be declared before 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
As announced on October 9, 2026, an error was identified in the voting instructions printed on ballots used during one of the advance voting opportunities for the School District 72 trustee election conducted in the city of Campbell River. The printed instructions incorrectly stated voters could select up to seven (7) school trustee candidates rather than directing voters to select no more than five (5) candidates. Once the error was discovered, election officials began providing verbal instructions to voters on how to correctly complete their ballots. Ballots on which voters selected more than five school trustee candidates were rejected for the school trustee election, and the votes in that portion of those ballots were not counted. Ballots on which voters selected five or fewer school trustee candidates remained valid and were included in the election count.
Ballot instructions were corrected for the October 14 advance voting opportunity and general voting day on October 17. Updated ballots were also included in mail ballot packages that had not yet been picked up when available, and voters were provided with verbal instructions when possible.
Election officials have confirmed that 140 City of Campbell River ballots were rejected in the 2026 School District 72 trustee election because more than the permitted number of school trustee candidates were selected:
- 109 were cast during advance voting on October 7 before the ballot error instruction was addressed.
- 12 were cast during advance voting on October 7 after corrected verbal instructions were provided to voters.
- 15 were mail ballots received before updated instructions were provided.
- 4 were mail ballots received after updated instructions were provided.
Following a review of the preliminary election results, including the vote difference between the fifth- and sixth-place candidates and the number of rejected ballots, election officials determined that the voting instruction error did not materially affect the outcome of the School District 72 school trustee election.
Election officials recognize that voters expect a fair, accurate, and transparent election process. The circumstances surrounding the error, along with the corrective measures taken once it was identified, will be reviewed to strengthen election processes and reduce the risk of similar issues in future elections.
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Media Contact:
Edith Watson, Chief Election Officer - Strathcona Regional District & School District 72
250-830-6712 | ewatson@srd.ca