Voter registration and voting

Voter registration

Voting day registration only

A local government may opt to use same-day voter registration rather offering advance registration through either the Provincial Voters List or the register of electors compiled by the local government.

Eligible electors are required to deliver an application for registration or provide the information required by section 70 of the Local Government Act and show two pieces of identification to register on voting day.

Application for registration

Under section 70 of the Local Government Act, an application for registration as an elector must include the following information:

• The full name of the applicant;
• The residential address of the applicant, and the mailing address if this is different
• Either the birth date or the last 6 digits of the social insurance number of the applicant, and
• A declaration that the applicant meets the requirements to be registered as an elector

Non-resident property electors must also provide:

• The address or legal description of the real property;
• Proof the applicant is entitled to register in relation to the real property, and
• If applicable, the written consent from a majority of the registered owners of the real property

The application must also be:

• Signed by the applicant and by a witness to the signature of the applicant, and
• Include the residential address of the witness, if this is not a person authorized by the chief election officer or designated local government officer

Voter identification

Eligible electors registering at the time of voting are 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 credit card (the BC Services Card when combined with a Driver’s Licence is considered one piece of identification). A voter may make a solemn declaration as to their place of residence if neither piece of identification shows the elector's residential address.

A full list of acceptable identifying documents is available in the Local Government Elections Regulation.

• Contact your local government for more information about acceptable identification.

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 (i.e., 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.

Elections BC updates names and addresses on the Provincial Voters List using information from voters, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), Elections Canada and local election officials. Electors can register in advance on the Provincial Voters List up until 52 days before general voting day.

Individuals can update their information online through the Elections BC webpage or call 1-800-661-8683.

A person whose name does not appear on the Provincial Voters List will be required to register and show two pieces of identification at the time of voting.

Local government maintains own list of electors

A local government must offer advance registration to resident and non-resident electors and maintain its own register of electors (i.e., Voters List). Exceptions to this are if the local government has adopted a bylaw to implement voting day registration only (no advance registration) or is using the Provincial Voters List (advance non-resident elector registration required, advance resident registration is optional).

If available, eligible resident and non-resident property electors can register in advance by delivering an application for registration until 53 days before general voting day. After this, advance registration is closed and does not reopen until the Monday after the close of general voting.

A person whose name does not appear on the local government register of electors will be required to register and show two pieces of identification at the time of voting.

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

Voting opportunities

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

The general voting day for general local elections is 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 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

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