Who is eligible to vote as a resident elector?
To vote in the 2022 General Local Election as a resident elector, you must meet ALL of the following requirements:
- you are age 18 or older on the day you vote
- you are a Canadian citizen
- you have been a resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before the day you vote
- April 4, 2022 or earlier if you vote in advance on October 5th
- April 14, 2022 or earlier if you vote on general voting day October 15th
- you are not disqualified by law from voting
- you must register to vote prior to receiving a ballot
What does “resident” mean?
Section 52 of the Local Government Act contains rules for determining residence:
- The following rules apply to determine the area in which a person is a resident:
- a person is a resident of the area where the person lives and to which, whenever absent, the person intends to return;
- a person may be the resident of only one area at a time for the purposes of this Part;
- a person does not change the area in which the person is a resident until the person has a new area in which the person is a resident;
- a person does not cease being a resident of an area by leaving the area for temporary purposes only.
- As an exception to subsection (1), if a person establishes for the purposes of attending an educational institution a new area in which the person is a resident that is away from the usual area in which the person is a resident, the person may choose for the purposes of this Part either the usual area or the new area as the area in which the person is a resident.
How do resident electors register to vote?
There is no need to pre-register to vote as the registration of all electors for this election will take place at the time of voting.
To register as a resident elector you must:
- be 18 years of age or older on general voting day October 15, 2022;
- be a Canadian citizen;
- be a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration (at time of voting);
- be a resident of the District of Sicamous on the day of registration (at time of voting); and
- not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or assent voting and not otherwise disqualified by law.
Resident electors must produce 2 pieces of identification (at least one with a signature). Picture identification is not necessary. The identification must prove both residency and identity.
What are acceptable documents for voter registration?
Acceptable documents for providing proof of identity and residence are as follows:
- BC Driver’s Licence
- BC ID Card issued by the Motor Vehicle Branch
- BC Services Card
- ICBC Owner’s Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence
- BC Care Card or BC Gold CareCard
- Ministry of Social Development & Economic Security Request for Continued Assistance (Form SDES8)
- Social Insurance Card
- Citizenship Card
- Property tax notice
- Credit card or debit card
- Utility bill (electricity, natural gas, water, telephone or cable services)
- Birth certificate
- Canadian passport
Who is disqualified from voting?
You may not vote in a BC local government election if you:
- have been convicted of an indictable offence and are in custody;
- are involuntarily confined to a psychiatric or other institution because you were acquitted of, or found not criminally responsible for, an offence under the Criminal Code on account of mental disorder; or
- have been found guilty of an election offence.