Voter registration and voting

On this page: 

• Voter registration
• Voting
• Voter identification
• Voting accessibility

Voter registration

Voting day registration only

A local government may opt to use same-day voter registration rather than the Provincial Voters List or a similar register of electors compiled by the local government.

To register on voting day, eligible resident electors are required  to show two pieces of identification (the BC Services Card when combined with a Driver’s Licence is considered one piece of identification), the identification must prove who they are and where they live -- including the person's name and residential address. If neither piece of identification shows the elector's residential address, they may make a solemn declaration as to their place of residence.

Provincial voters list

A local government may, by bylaw, use the most current available Provincial Voters List prepared by Elections BC rather than maintaining its own register of resident electors (aka Voters List). If so, resident electors whose names appear on the Provincial Voters List are automatically registered and are not required to show identification in order receive a ballot and vote in local elections.

Electors can register in advance on the Provincial Voters List up until 52 days before general voting day.

A person whose name does not appear on the Provincial Voters List will be required to show two pieces of identification, the identification must prove who they are and where they live -- including the person's name and residential address. One of the pieces of identification must also include the person's signature such as a Driver's Licence or BC Services Card (the BC Services Card when combined with a Driver’s Licence is considered one piece of identification). If neither piece of identification shows the elector's residential address, they may make a solemn declaration as to their place of residence.

The names of non-resident property electors are not recorded on the Provincial Voters List. Where a local government uses the Provincial Voters List, non-resident property electors need to register at the time of voting and show two pieces of identification, as well as the title of the property in relation to which they are voting.

Own list of electors

A local government must maintain and use its own register of electors (aka Voters List), unless it has adopted a bylaw to implement voting day registration only or use the Provincial Voters List.

Eligible resident and non-resident property electors can register in advance on the local government register of electors up until 53 days before general voting day.

A resident elector is required to show two pieces of identification or sign a solemn declaration if their name does not already appear on the local government-maintained list of registered electors.

The names of non-resident property electors may not be recorded on the local government register of electors. Non-resident property electors whose names do not appear on the register of electors will need to register at the time of voting and show two pieces of identification, as well as the title of the property in relation to which they are voting.

• Contact your local government for more information about the register of electors

Voting

General voting day is usually the most publicized or widely-known voting opportunity resident and non-resident property electors have to cast their ballot in a local election.

An advance voting opportunity must also be available, and many local governments offer more than one such opportunity. Some local governments also offer special voting and mail ballot voting to their electors as set out in the local government's election bylaw.

General voting day

General voting day is held every four years on the third Saturday in October. General voting day is the primary opportunity for candidates seeking office as a mayor, councillor, electoral area director, Islands Trust local trustee, local community commissioner or specified parks board commissioner to be elected to office by eligible electors.

Voting places are open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm local time on general voting day.

Advance voting

An advance voting opportunity must be held 10 days prior to general voting day. This required advance voting day allows eligible electors who may not otherwise be able to vote on general voting day to cast their ballots. Local governments with populations greater than 5,000 are required to hold at least two advance voting opportunities.

Local governments may set out in their election bylaws whether additional advance voting opportunities will be offered, or in communities of less than 5,000, whether the required additional advance voting opportunity will be waived.

Special voting

Special voting opportunities may be held in any location – inside or outside the local government boundary – to provide eligible electors who may not otherwise be able to attend a voting place an opportunity to cast their ballots during a local election.

Special voting opportunities are generally held in hospitals, long-term care facilities or other locations where electors’ mobility may be impaired. Only designated electors are eligible to vote at special voting opportunities. Local governments may set out the specific dates, times and locations where special voting will take place during an election in their election bylaws​.

Mail ballot voting

Mail ballot voting provides electors the ability to register to vote and cast a ballot by mail rather than attending a polling station in-person to vote at a  an advance, special or general voting opportunity in local elections..All eligible electors may vote by mail ballot if the local government has adopted a bylaw that offers mail ballot voting.

A person may not cast their ballot in local elections via the Internet or over the telephone.

• Contact your local government for information about advance voting and mail ballot voting opportunities

Voter identification

When a resident elector is required to show two pieces of identification, the identification must prove who they are and where they live -- including the person's name and residential address. One of the pieces of identification must also include the person's signature such as a Driver's Licence or BC Services Card (the BC Services Card when combined with a Driver’s Licence is considered one piece of identification). If neither piece of identification shows the elector's residential address, they may make a solemn declaration as to their place of residence.

Non-resident property electors must prove who they are and where they live as well as provide the address or legal description and the title (or other proof of ownership) of the property in relation to which they are registering to vote. Non-resident property electors must also demonstrate to the presiding election official that they have the written consent of the majority of all owners to vote as the designated non-resident property elector if they own the property with another person.

• Contact your local government for information about which identification is required to register

Voting accessibility

Local governments are required to make voting places as accessible as reasonably possible. This includes providing options for:

• Assistance receiving a ballot ("curb-side" voting): if an eligible elector travels to a voting place and cannot easily access the building or room in which voting is taking place, an election official may bring them a ballot
• Assistance marking a ballot: if an eligible elector is unable to mark their own ballot, another person, such as an election official, friend or relative, may assist them. That person will be required to sign a solemn declaration before being able to provide assistance in marking the ballot
• Translation: if an eligible elector requires assistance from a translator, they may bring one, as long as the translator makes a solemn declaration that they can and will translate to the best of their ability

Local elections legislation

• Local Government Act
• Local Election Campaign Financing Act​
• Community Charter
• Vancouver Charter​
• School Act
• Offence Act