The District of Sooke is set to hold a municipal byelection this summer.
The byelection is needed to fill the seat on Sooke council that was left vacant when Dana Lajeunesse stepped down to taken on his new role as MLA for Juan de Fuca-Malahat in November 2024.
"The byelection will provide residents with the opportunity to elect a new councillor to serve alongside the mayor and council as they continue their work to guide Sooke’s growth, strengthen local services, and represent the needs of the community," the district stated in a news release.
Sooke residents will have many opportunities to participate in the election process leading up to the July 12 date of the byelection.
The election formalities will begin with a candidate information session on May 21, at 6 p.m. where the district will invite prospective candidates to attend and learn more about the election process.
The session will provide an overview of the local government election process, including the roles and responsibilities of a councillor, key dates and deadlines, nomination requirements, and campaign guidelines.
“We encourage anyone considering running for the vacant council seat to attend this session,” says chief election officer Jessica Bagnall.
“The session will provide an overview of the nomination process, outline the responsibilities of serving as a councillor, and offer an opportunity to ask questions.”
Following this session, the nomination period will run from May 27 at 9 a.m. until June 6 at 4 p.m. Nomination packages are soon to be available at Sooke Municipal Hall or online at sooke.ca/elections.
Advanced voting days are currently scheduled for Wednesday, July 2 and Wednesday, July 9. General voting day will take place on Saturday, July 12.
Special voting and mail ballot opportunities will be available, with the details on these processes to be released at a later date.
Sooke is encouraging residents to keep informed on the election process as more information is released by Sooke Municipal Hall. Up-to-date information can be found online at sooke.ca/elections.
