| Frequently
Asked Questions About Elections
Candidate's
Questions - Table of Contents
Voter's
Questions - Table of Contents
When
is General Voting Day?
Does Elections British
Columbia run general local elections?
How do I know if I'm
eligible to vote?
Do I need identification
in order to vote?
Do I get time off work
to vote in a local government election?
I am a member of a First
Nation, living on reserve. Can I vote in a local government
election?
I moved here two weeks
before General Voting Day. Can I vote?
I won't be here on General
Voting Day; how can I vote?
Can I vote by mail?
Can I vote through the
Internet?
I own a company in the
local government, do I get an extra vote?
I am a British subject.
Can I vote?
I don't live in the jurisdiction,
but I own property. Can I vote?
If my local government
has a list of voters and I'm not on it, can I still
register on the day of voting?
Am I allowed to look
at the list of voters?
What can I do if I
think someone on the list of voters is not eligible to
vote?
How will I know where
to vote?
How should I mark the
ballot?
Can I take someone into
the voting booth to help me?
Am I allowed to assist
someone who has a physical disability or
other difficulty?
Can a candidate help
me vote if I need assistance?
My municipality has
neighbourhood constituencies (wards). I live in one ward and
have recreational property in another. Can I vote in both?
How can I find out if
my municipal councillors are elected in
neighbourhood constituencies (wards)?
Where can I find information
on election results?
Where can I find statistics
on voter turnout?
When was the voting age
changed to 18?
When were three-year
terms introduced?
Can I look at a candidate's
financial disclosure statements?
What is an elector organization?
Candidates
Table of Contents
Can
I run for office?
What is an indictable
offence?
Can I run for councillor
in my municipality and for electoral area director in my regional
district?
Can I be both a local
government representative (mayor, councillor, electoral area
director, islands trustee or school trustee) and a Member
of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) or Member of Parliament
(MP)?
Can I be both mayor and
councillor in the same local government?
Can I run for office
if I work for the local government holding the election?
Can I run for office
in a regional district electoral area if I work for a municipality
that is a member of the regional district?
Can I run for office
in a municipality if the municipality is a member of the regional
district I work for?
I work on contract for
a local government. Can I run for office in that local government?
Can I run for both councillor
or electoral area director, and school board trustee?
I am a councillor and
the Mayor has just resigned. Can I run for the office of Mayor
in the upcoming by-election?
When can I start campaigning?
Where can I get some
information on campaign financial disclosure requirements?
Is there a limit to what
I can spend on my campaign?
How many people need
to nominate me to run for office?
Do I have to pay a fee
to run for office?
Are there any other requirements
for me as a candidate?
What if I receive no
contributions and spend nothing on my campaign, do I still
have to open a separate account?
If I don't win the election,
do I still have to file disclosure documents?
Can the public view
my disclosure documents?
Can I, or my elector
organization, have campaign signs at the voting place on voting
day?
Can I, or my elector
organization, advertise on the day of the election?
Can I have a Web site
for my campaign?
What if I decide I don't
want to run for office after I've put in my nomination papers?
How does the Financial
Disclosure Act relate to candidates?
VOTERS
When
is General Voting Day?
General
Voting Day for local government elections in the province
of British Columbia is always the third Saturday in November.
In 2002, that will be November 16. Most voting places are
open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Does
Elections British Columbia run general local elections?
No.
Each local government (municipality, including island municipalities
and the Sechelt Indian Government District, regional district,
school district, and the Islands Trust) is responsible for
running its own election, and appoints a Chief Election Officer
to ensure the process is run according to the Local Government
Act.
Elections
British Columbia is responsible for running elections
and by-elections for Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)
in the province of British Columbia.
How
do I know if I'm eligible to vote?
You
are eligible to vote in a British Columbia local election
as a resident elector if you:
- are
a Canadian citizen;
- are
18 years of age or more on general voting day;
- have
lived in British Columbia for at least six months before
you register to vote; and
- have
lived in the municipality, regional district or school district
for 30 days or more before you register to vote.
You
may be eligible to vote in a British Columbia local election
as a non-resident property elector if you:
- are
a Canadian citizen;
- are
18 years of age or more on general voting day;
- have
lived in British Columbia for at least six months before
you register to vote; and
- are
not otherwise disqualified from voting in an election.
For
more information, check the Voter's
Guide.
Do
I need identification in order to vote?
If
you are registering to vote on the day of voting, you must
have two pieces of identification (ID). The ID must show your
residential address and one of them must have your signature.
If your ID doesn't show your residential address, you can
make what is called a "solemn declaration" as to
your residence. The voting clerk will have the form you need
to use to make that declaration.
If
you have registered in advance of voting day and appear on
the voters list, it is not necessary to produce ID at the
time of voting.
If
you are a non-resident property elector (see above) you will
need to provide a non-resident property elector certificate
at the time of voting.
Do
I get time off work to vote in a local government election?
No.
Voting places are generally open from 8:00 in the morning
to 8:00 at night to provide time to vote. In addition, the
law requires that local governments provide one or more advance
voting opportunities so that people who are unable to vote
on general voting day have a chance to vote.
I
am a member of a First Nation, living on reserve. Can I vote
in a local government election?
If
the reserve is within a municipality and you are otherwise
eligible to vote, you can vote in the municipal election.
If the reserve is not within a municipality but within a regional
district and you are otherwise eligible to vote, you can vote
for the electoral area director in the election held by the
regional district. This applies to non-aboriginal leaseholders
as well.
I
moved here two weeks before General Voting Day. Can I vote?
No;
you must have resided in the local government for 30 days
to be eligible to vote.
I
won't be here on General Voting Day; how can I vote?
Each
local government is required to have at least one advance
voting opportunity, and many have more than one. Check with
your local government to find out when you may vote.
Can
I vote by mail?
Some
local governments permit mail ballot voting under certain
circumstances. Check with your local government to see if
that option is available to you.
Can
I vote through the Internet?
No.
I
own a company in the local government, do I get an extra vote?
No;
there is no corporate vote in British Columbia.
I
am a British subject. Can I vote?
No;
only Canadian citizens can vote.
I
don't live in the jurisdiction, but I own property. Can I
vote?
If
you are a resident of British Columbia, own property in the
local government and are otherwise qualified, you may be able
to vote as a non-resident property elector.
If
you own the property with other non-resident electors, only
one of you can vote. You must have the written consent of
the other owners to cast the ballot. Even if you own more
than one piece of property in the local government, you may
only vote in relation to one.
If
you want to register on the day of voting, you will need a
non-resident property elector certificate from the local government.
Check with your local government about how to get that certificate.
See
the Voters Guide for more information,
and contact the local government where your property is located
to find about the process of registering and voting as a non-resident
property elector.
If
my local government has a voters list and I'm not on it, can
I still register on the day of voting?
Yes,
just remember to take two pieces of identification with you
if you are a resident voter. The ID must show your residential
address and one of them must have your signature. If your
ID doesn't show your residential address, you can make what
is called a "solemn declaration" as to your residence.
The voting clerk will have the form you need to use to make
that declaration.
Am
I allowed to look at the voters list?
Yes,
you can go to your local government office and ask to see
the list. But first you will have to sign a statement saying
that you will not use the information except for the purposes
of the election.
What
can I do if I think someone on the voters list is not eligible
to vote?
You
may object only if you yourself meet the qualifications to
register as an elector.
If
you want to object to another elector's name on the voters
list your written, signed objection must be filed with the
local government before 4 p.m. on the 36th day before voting
day. An objection can only be made if the elector has died
or if the person on the list is not qualified to be registered
as an elector of the local government.
The
person against whom the objection was made is then notified
and given a chance to produce evidence that he or she is in
fact an eligible voter.
How
will I know where to vote?
Your
local government is required to post notices of voting places
in the local newspaper. Keep your eye on the paper prior to
general voting day. You can also check the local government
Web page, if there is one, or phone your municipal or regional
district office.
How
should I mark the ballot?
You
must mark it in pencil by making a cross in the blank space
opposite the name of the candidate or candidates for whom
you wish to vote. Do not add any marks, scribbles, words or
comments to the ballot or your ballot will be rejected, which
means that your vote will not count.
Can
I take someone into the voting booth to help me?
The
law says that only one person may be in a voting booth at
a time, unless the voter is someone who needs assistance,
such as a translator or other helper. Or, if you are caring
for someone at the time you cast your ballot, the presiding
election official may allow you to have that person in the
booth with you as you are casting your ballot. Check with
the presiding election official on the day of voting.
Am
I allowed to assist someone who has a physical disability
or other difficulty?
Yes,
but you must sign a written statement about your assistance,
and, if you are not an election official, a solemn declaration
will be required. Check with the presiding election official
at the time of voting.
Can
a candidate help me vote if I need assistance?
No.
Candidates and their representatives and agents are prohibited
from assisting electors.
My
municipality has neighbourhood constituencies (wards). I live
in one ward and have recreational property in another. Can
I vote in both?
Yes.
Because candidates in neighbourhood constituencies are not
elected at large, an elector can vote in the constituency
in which he or she lives, as well as vote as a non-resident
property elector in a different constituency where he or she
owns property.
How
can I find out if my municipal councillors are elected in
neighbourhood constituencies (wards)?
It
is up to the local council whether elections take place at
large or in neighbourhood constituencies. Check with the municipal
office to find out.
Where
can I find information on election results?
Contact
the local government that conducted the election. This may
be a municipality, a regional district, a school district
(where the school district has conducted an election for school
trustee), or the Islands Trust.
Where
can I find statistics on voter turnout?
Each
local government keeps its own statistics. The Union of British
Columbia Municipalities may also have some of that information.
However, if a local government has voting day only registration,
that information may not be available. Their phone number
is 604 270-8226.
When
was the voting age changed to 18?
In
1993 the voting age was changed to 18, to make it consistent
with the voting age for federal and provincial elections.
When
were three-year terms introduced?
In
1989 the Local Government Act was amended to phase
in three-year terms. 1990 was the first year all mayors and
councillors were elected at the same time for a three year
term.
Can
I look at a candidate's financial disclosure statements?
Yes;
they are available at the local government office, during
regular office hours, from the time of filing until 7 years
after the election to which they relate.
What
is an elector organization?
An
elector organization is an organization that encourages the
election of a particular candidate. If the organization wants
to have its name appear on the ballot with the candidate's
name, it must have been in existence for 60 days and have
had a membership of 50 electors of the local government
for that period. Elector organizations are bound by the same
financial disclosure rules as candidates and their disclosure
statements are available for inspection by the public at the
local government office.
CANDIDATES
Can
I run for office?
If
you are qualified to vote in a general local election and
if you have not otherwise been disqualified, you are eligible
to run for office. In addition, you must:
- be
18 or older;
- be
a Canadian citizen; and
- be
a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months before
the election.
There
are some people who are specifically disqualified. Check with
any of the following for more information:
- your
local government;
- section
66 or the Local Government Act; or
- the
Candidate's Guide.
What
is an indictable offence?
You
need to check with a lawyer since many offences can be either
indictable or a summary conviction.
Can
I run for councillor in my municipality and for electoral
area director in my regional district?
Yes.
Can
I be both a local government representative (mayor, councillor,
electoral area director, islands trustee or school trustee)
and an Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) or Member
of Parliament (MP)?
Yes,
however there is a considerable amount of time involved in
filling any of these offices; you may choose to do just one.
Can
I be both mayor and councillor in the same local government?
No.
You can only hold one office in the same local government.
Can
I run for office if I work for the local government holding
the election?
No,
there is a specific restriction against both working for,
and holding office in, the same local government. However,
if you were to take a leave of absence from your job, you
could run in the election. If elected, you would have to resign
your job.
Can
I run for office in a regional district electoral area if
I work for a municipality that is a member of the regional
district?
Yes,
although it might not be wise. If elected you could be vulnerable
to allegations of conflict of interest because of your employment.
See the Candidate's Guide.
Can
I run for office in a municipality if the municipality is
a member of the regional district I work for?
Yes,
although it might not be wise. If elected you could be vulnerable
to allegations of conflict of interest because of your employment.
See the Candidate's Guide.
I
work on contract for a local government. Can I run for office
in that local government?
It
depends on whether you are considered to be an employee of
the local government despite your contract. Check with the
Chief Election Officer for the local government. You may want
to consider whether your contract could expose you to allegations
of conflict of interest while serving as an elected representative.
Can
I run for both councillor or electoral area director, AND
school board trustee?
Yes,
the only restriction is that you can't run for, or hold, two
offices in the same local government. In other words, you
can't run for both mayor and councillor.
I
am a councillor and the Mayor has just resigned. Can I run
for the office of Mayor in the upcoming by-election?
You
can, if you resign as councillor within 14 days after the
day on which the chief election officer is appointed by council.
When
can I start campaigning?
Whenever
you like. Just make sure you record all your election contributions
and expenses for the disclosure statement you must file within
120 days after voting day.
Where
can I get some information on campaign financial disclosure
requirements?
See
the Candidate's Guide. Your local
government may have additional information.
Is
there a limit to what I can spend on my campaign?
No;
but you must record and report all contributions and expenses.
How
many people need to nominate me to run for office?
Two,
but it's wise to have more in case it turns out that one of
them is not an eligible nominator.
Do
I have to pay a fee to run for office?
You
may have to pay a refundable nomination deposit, depending
on the local government in which you want to run. Some local
governments require a nomination deposit, to a maximum of
$100, which is returned to the candidate after the election..
Check with your local government to see whether they require
a deposit.
Are
there any other requirements for me as a candidate?
You
must open a separate bank account for all campaign contributions
and expenses. You should open that account as soon as you
receive your first election contribution, or before you spend
any money on your campaign.
What
if I receive no contributions and spend nothing on my campaign,
do I still have to open a separate account?
Yes.
If
I don't win the election, do I still have to file disclosure
documents?
Yes.
This applies to elector organizations too.
Can
the public view my disclosure documents?
Yes,
they are available for public inspection in the local government
office during regular office hours until 7 years after the
general voting day to which they relate.
Can
I, or my elector organization, have campaign signs at the
voting place on voting day?
No,
there can be no campaign material (signs, buttons, brochures
etc.) within 100 metres of a voting place. This includes advance
voting opportunities.
Can
I, or my elector organization, advertise on the day of the
election?
You
cannot advertise in newspapers or on radio or television on
the day of the election, and there must be no campaign material
(signs, buttons, brochures etc.) within 100 metres of a voting
place. Be careful, if you advertise in a weekly newspaper
that is distributed on a Saturday, that your ad does not appear
on election day.
Can
I have a Web site for my campaign?
Yes,
although it would be wise to restrict access to it on voting
day.
What
if I decide I don't want to run for office after I've put
in my nomination papers?
You
may withdraw as a candidate until 4 p.m. on the 29th day before
voting day. If you want to withdraw after that deadline, the
Chief Election Officer must notify the Minister of Community,
Aboriginal and Women's Services, and the Minister will decide
whether or not the candidate may withdraw.
How
does the Financial Disclosure Act relate to candidates?
Each
candidate must complete a financial disclosure form in accordance
with the Financial
Disclosure Act.
More information is available in a Fact
Sheet for candidates, who are required to fill out a Statement
of Financial Disclosure.
That
Act is administered by the Attorney General of British Columbia.
Once
elected, the financial disclosure form must be filed between
January 1 and 15 each year you are in office.
If
you have questions we haven't answered, please call the Local
government Department at 250 387-4020.
For toll free access call Enquiry BC:
Call 604-660-2421 in Vancouver or
1-800-663-7867 elsewhere in B.C. and request a transfer.
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