Voter's Guide
This guide
is designed to answer a few of the basic questions BC residents
might have about local government and local elections in this
province.
Local government
is government at the community level - government that affects
all of us, every day.
Local governments
include:
- municipalities;
- regional
districts;
- school
districts; and
- the Islands
Trust.
Contents
Do I qualify
to vote?
You may vote
in a BC local election as a resident elector
if you:
- are 18
years of age or more on general voting day;
- have lived
in BC for at least six months before you register to vote; and
- have lived
in the municipality, regional district or school district where
you wish to vote for 30 days or more before you register to
vote.
I own property
somewhere else in BC - can I vote there also?
As
a non-resident property owner -- you own property in one place
but live in another -- you have the right to vote both where you
live and where you own property.
You may vote
in a BC local election as a non-resident property elector
if you:
- are not
a resident elector in that community;
- are 18
years of age or more on general voting day;
- have lived
in BC for at least six months before you register to vote; and
- have owned
the property for at least 30 days before you register to vote.
What if I
own property with someone else?
Only
one non-resident property owner may vote for each property.
In other words,
if two or more non-resident property owners own a single piece
of property, the majority of owners must designate -- in writing
-- one owner as the non-resident property elector for that property.
What if I
own property with someone else, and that person is living in the
house?
The
person living in the house may vote as a resident elector because
he or she lives there. As a non-resident property owner, you are
also eligible to vote for that property, but you will still need
the written consent of the other owner.
What if I
own more than one piece of property?
You
may only vote as a non-resident property elector for one piece
of property in any municipality, regional district or school district.
In other words,
if you own two pieces of property in one municipality, you may
vote only once. If, however, you own one piece of property in
one municipality and a second piece of property in another, you
may vote in both jurisdictions.
Is there
anyone who cannot vote in a local election?
You
may not vote in a BC local government election (as either a resident
elector or a non-resident property elector ) if you:
- have been
convicted of an indictable offence and are in custody; or
- have been
found guilty of an election offence.
How do I
register to vote?
You
may register before the local election at your municipal or regional
district office, or you may register at the voting place.
Some communities
may choose to register all voters on the day they vote. Please
check with your municipality or regional district for registration
procedures in your area.
Do non-resident
property owners register the same way?
Non-resident
property owners may also register in advance or at the voting
place. However, if you choose to register at the time you vote,
you must be sure to obtain a Non-Resident Property Elector Certificate.
To
obtain this certificate, you must produce proof that you are the
registered owner of the property. If you are one of two or more
owners, you must also demonstrate -- in writing -- that you have
the consent of the majority of all owners to vote as the non-resident
property elector.
Check with
the municipality or regional district in the area where you own
the property for more detailed explanation of registration procedures.
When are
local elections held?
Local
elections are held every three years. General voting day is always
the third Saturday in November.
Additional
elections -- known as by-elections -- may be called at other times
to fill vacancies.
Can I vote
before general voting day?
In
every community, one advance voting day will be held on the Wednesday
10 days before general voting day, from 8 a.m to 8 p.m.
Many communities
will also offer a second advance voting day on a date determined
by the individual municipality, regional district or school district.
Check with your local government to find out if and when a second
advance voting day will be held in your area.
What if I
need assistance to vote?
All
local governments are required to make voting places as accessible
as possible to people with disabilities or impaired mobility.
- If you
find it difficult to get into a voting place, but can make it
to the parking lot or the curb outside, you may request an election
official to bring you a ballot. This is called curbside voting.
- If you
are unable to mark your own ballot, you may ask an election
official, friend or relative to help you.
- If you
need a translator, you may bring someone to assist you.
- Local governments
may also choose to use mail ballots for people who are unable
to reach the voting place due to the illness, injury or physical
disability.
Check with your local government to find out if mail ballots
are offered in your area.
What are
the penalties for not following elections laws?
Anyone
who commits an election offence, such as double voting or signing
a false statement, is liable to a fine up to $5,000 and/or up
to one year in prison. He or she may also be prohibited from holding
office and/or voting in local government elections for up to six
years.
Anyone convicted
of a more serious election offence, such as vote buying or intimidation,
could be subject to a fine of up to $10, 000 and up to two years
in prison.
Do I need
identification?
Yes.
You will need two pieces that prove who you are and where you
live. One of them must have your signature on it.
Check with
your local government office to see what they require.
How can I
get more information about voting in local elections in BC?
For specific
questions on voting where you live or own property, please call
or write your municipality or regional district. Address and phone
numbers are listed in the blue pages of your local phone book.
For questions
on voting for school board trustees, please call or write your
school district or:
Ministry
of Education
Governance and Legislation
PO Box 9146 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9H1
Phone (250) 356-1404
For questions
on municipal, regional district or Islands Trust elections please
call or write:
The
Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services
Local Government Department
PO Box 9490 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9N7
Phone (250) 387- 4020
Download
Voter's Guide 
