For many non-profits, advocacy and public awareness work are a regular part of advancing their mission. However, during election periods, some communications may be regulated under provincial election financing rules. Understanding when these rules apply can help organizations continue their work with greater confidence.
On June 25, 2026, Vantage Point hosted a webinar with Elections BC to help non-profits better understand the rules around third-party advertising during local elections and how to navigate these regulations. The Elections BC presenters discussed some of the conditions which could lead public communications and advocacy to be deemed third-party advertising under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act,, and highlighted resources available to help organizations stay informed and compliant.
What is Third-Party Advertising?
Third party advertising generally refers to public communications that directly or indirectly support or oppose a candidate during the pre-campaign (July 20th – September 18th) or campaign period (September 19th – October 17th) of a local election. It also refers to public communications taking a position on an issue associated with a local candidate or party during the campaign period only. These rules exist to regulate election spending and influence from interest groups on local elections. Any communications that are considered third party advertising require registration as a third-party advertising sponsor with Elections BC, meaning an individual or organization unaffiliated with any local candidates or parties that produces third-party advertising. These rules also require the inclusion of disclosure statements on these third-party advertising communications. Elections BC answered questions around these aspects of the regulation in more detail in our webinar.
Why This Matters for Non-Profits
Understanding if your organization is conducting third party advertising can at times be complex to navigate and it may be unclear whether your organization needs to register with Elections BC. In the 2022 BC Local Elections, many instances of noncompliance penalties from Elections BC were issued to non-profit organizations that were unaware their communications constituted third-party advertising. For 2026, Elections BC has provided numerous resources to support organizations in understanding if they will need to register when the pre-campaign period commences on July 20th, or when the campaign period commences on September 19th. These resources include eLearning, webinars, and contact information to directly discuss your organization’s unique situation with Elections BC staff.
Elections BC is hosting an information session on July 23rd which will cover these rules and requirements in much greater detail and offer the opportunity to ask your situation-specific questions to compliance officers from Elections BC. Register for the session here.
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Key Dates and Resources for the 2026 Local Elections:
- Pre-campaign period: July 20 to September 18, 2026
- Elections BC Information Session: July 23, 2026
- Campaign period: September 19 to October 17, 2026