Democracy is hardest at the local level
Local elections ask the most of voters and give them the least to go on. In Kelowna's municipal election you choose a mayor, up to eight councillors and up to four school trustees — around 46 names, and no party labels to shortcut the decision. LocalVote is a free, non-partisan tool that puts each candidate's background, record and positions in one place, with sources, so you can decide who fits what you care about.
Why local elections especially
In provincial and federal races, the party label does a lot 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
- Browse everyone running for mayor, council and school trustee.
- Mark each candidate keep, research or rule out — the counters keep you within the seat limits (1 mayor, 8 councillors, 4 trustees).
- Add private notes, then print your shortlist as a cheat-sheet to take to 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 — that's not a judgment about them, and we're always adding more.
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 built in Kelowna. It is not affiliated with the City of Kelowna or Elections BC, and it is not an official ballot — always confirm candidates and voting details at kelowna.ca.
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 corrections@localvote.ca, or reach us at info@localvote.ca.
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