Who are you voting for? Few questions have weighed more heavily on the minds of Vancouverites this past month. The October 17 municipal election is fast approaching, and its potential outcomes are of considerable interest to the majority of citizens, from senior constituents to high school reporters. While many people want to keep current mayor Ken Sim for another term, competition is brewing. The three main candidates challenging incumbent mayor Ken Sim of ABC Vancouver are Pete Fry, Green Party; Kareem Allam, Vancouver Liberals; and Colleen Hardwick, TEAM.
In the 2022 municipal election, an astounding 36.3% of registered voters reflected a one-in-three Vancouver voters participating in the election. Historically, municipal elections have attracted lower participation from Vancouverites, but 2026 is seeing record advanced-voting figures. One possible reason for this is that many are unsatisfied with the current administration, and seek political change through available means. Another possibility is the influence of social media.
Social media content on Instagram, Facebook, and other tech platforms allows for an abundance of radical political sentiments to spread in the absence of civil discussion. The anonymity of these platforms allows people to say what they truly think without social norms to tell them otherwise. In one post, an Instagram user commented, “Gotta get the communists out,” in reference to ABC Vancouver, whilst another user noted, “I feel this election might be rigged?” Emotional criticism has also been directed towards Mayor Ken Sim, with one user questioning his fiscal priorities: “‘Zero means zero budget’ i [sic] guess that doesn’t include the police department but includes everything else?” The digital landscape amplifies a vocal minority, allowing the most extreme and least informed voices to dominate the conversation, making it important to remember that social media does not capture the views of the broader electorate.
“I want a mayor who actually shows up to transit meetings and moves the UBC SkyTrain forward,” one Grade 12 student said. “Ken Sim has missed three-quarters of them and the project is stalled. I’ll vote for whoever has concrete plans to build the infrastructure students need, whichever party that may be.”
As election day approaches, the most important thing when you’re voting is to vote for the candidate and party that you believe is best for Vancouver. Take into consideration social media and the news but don’t let it make up your mind for you. Do your own independent research on candidates’ stances and policies and make an informed decision that reflects your values and what you think is best for the future of Vancouver. Advance voting continues on October 13 and the general vote takes place on October 17.
