What happens when the writ drops

The writ dropping means the writs of election have been issued and the campaign is formally on. Section 26 of the Election Act sets the moment precisely: an election is called when the writ for the election is issued under the order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Two things happen together. The Lieutenant Governor dissolves the Legislative Assembly, and the Lieutenant Governor in Council issues an order directing the Chief Electoral Officer to issue writs for every electoral district. Elections BC uses electoral district for what most people call a riding.

When does the writ have to drop?

The fixed date sits in section 23 of the provincial Constitution Act. Final voting day must occur on the third Saturday in October in the fourth calendar year following the final voting day for the most recently held general election. The 2024 general election was held on Saturday October 19 2024, which puts the next scheduled date at Saturday October 21 2028.

Two qualifications go with that. Section 23(1) preserves the Lieutenant Governor’s power to dissolve the Legislative Assembly at any time. Section 23(3) allows the date to move if the campaign period would overlap a general local election or a federal general election, in which case a new date is set after consultation with the Chief Electoral Officer and the Leader of the Official Opposition and each leader of a recognized political party.

How long is the campaign period?

The campaign period runs from the call to the close of final voting. Section 27 of the Election Act fixes Final Voting Day as the 28th day after the election is called for any by-election and for a general election held under section 23(2) or 23(3) of the Constitution Act. Section 23(3) is the provision that moves the date when a campaign period would overlap a general local election or a federal general election. A general election called outside those provisions runs longer, at least the 32nd day and no later than the 38th day after the call.

Final Voting Day for a general election must fall on a Saturday, and section 27(4) moves it to the next day that is not a holiday if that Saturday is a holiday. The 2026 Abbotsford-Mission by-election shows that clock in practice. Elections BC records that the by-election was called on August 29 2026 with Final Voting Day on September 26 2026.

When is the nomination deadline?

Nomination documents go to the district electoral officer for the electoral district. For a scheduled general election, section 56 of the Election Act requires them between the call and 1 p.m. Pacific time on the seventh day after the election is called. A by-election uses the same closing time, with filing opening at 9 a.m. on the third day.

Section 56 puts the duty to make sure documents arrive on time on the person being nominated. If a deadline would land on a holiday, it moves to 1 p.m. on the next day that is not a holiday. Elections BC listed nominations closing at 1 p.m. on September 5 2026 for the Abbotsford-Mission by-election.

When is advance voting?

Advance voting runs for six days. Section 76 of the Election Act requires six consecutive days starting eight days before a Final Voting Day that falls on a Saturday, with voting hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. If one of those days falls on a holiday other than a Sunday, the Chief Electoral Officer sets six days inside a window that opens 12 days before Final Voting Day and closes at least two days before it.

That holiday rule is why the 2024 advance period was split. Elections BC held advance voting from Thursday October 10 to Sunday October 13 and again from Tuesday October 15 to Wednesday October 16, with places closed on Thanksgiving Monday.

Voters who cannot attend can request a vote-by-mail package, or vote at the district electoral office.

What stops in government during the campaign?

Business in the Legislative Assembly stops entirely. Parliamentary Practice in British Columbia states that dissolution terminates a Parliament, that all business before the Assembly is terminated and that committees cease to exist. Bills that have not received royal assent end along with the rest of the Assembly’s business.

Members stop being members. The Legislative Assembly’s 2024 transition guide states that at dissolution members cease to be Members of the Legislative Assembly and can no longer identify themselves as such, and that the MLA title should come off communications and websites.

Publicly funded resources also go quiet. The guide bars constituency communications and advertisements and mailings during the election period, suspends members’ travel cards and states that facilities and assets paid for with public funds cannot be used for campaign purposes. Constituency offices may continue to provide services, may operate on reduced hours or may close, at the former member’s discretion.