Democracy is hardest at the local level
Local elections ask the most of voters and give them the least to go on: long ballots, no party labels, and little coverage of any single candidate. LocalVote is a free, non-partisan tool that puts every candidate in your local election in one place, with sources, so you can decide who fits what you care about. It currently covers the Central Okanagan — Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland and Lake Country — and is growing.
Why local elections especially
In provincial and federal races, the party label does much of a voter's sorting. Municipal elections don't work that way — there are no parties, the ballot is long, and coverage of any single candidate is thin. That's exactly where a voter is most overwhelmed and least served, and it's the gap LocalVote is built to close.
How it works
- Find your election from the homepage — by postal code or by browsing the list.
- Browse everyone running for each office on your ballot.
- Mark each candidate keep, research or rule out — the counters keep you within each office's seat limits.
- Add private notes, then print your shortlist as a cheat-sheet for the polls.
- Everything you do is saved only on your own device. There are no accounts and nothing to sign up for.
How we handle information
This is the part that matters most, so we're specific about it. LocalVote doesn't rank or score candidates and it doesn't tell you who to vote for — it organizes evidence and shows you where each piece came from. Every claim on a candidate is labelled by source:
- candidate's claim — something the candidate says about themselves, from their own site or channel.
- public record — official information, such as an incumbent's role or voting history.
- news — reported by a news outlet.
- opinion — a third party's view, clearly marked as such.
Each claim links to its source so you can check it yourself, and anything not yet confirmed is flagged as needs confirming rather than presented as fact. A candidate with blank fields simply hasn't been researched yet, or has little public information available — that's noted plainly, and it's not a judgment about them. Newly added regions often start mostly blank and fill in over time.
What the badges mean
Some candidates carry a small label. Incumbent means they currently hold the seat they're running for. A coalition tag (for example BRACE in Kelowna) means they're running as part of a publicly self-identified slate. Both are neutral facts — neither an endorsement nor a warning. Follow the links on that candidate's card and decide for yourself.
Our non-partisan pledge
- No slates or endorsements. We don't back candidates or tell you how to vote.
- No partisan or corporate funding. We accept nothing from political parties, campaigns, candidates or special-interest groups.
- Independent and local. LocalVote is an independent project. It is not affiliated with any municipality or with Elections BC, and it is not an official ballot — always confirm candidates and voting details with your local election office.
Spot an error?
Accuracy matters to us. If something is wrong, out of date, or unfairly framed, tell us and we'll verify it and correct or remove it promptly. Email [email protected], or reach us at [email protected].
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