2026 General Local Elections - Voter Eligibility
To vote in an election or an assent voting opportunity (referendum), voters must meet all of the qualifications to be a Resident Elector or a Non-Resident Property Elector.
Voting as a Resident Elector
To register and vote as a resident elector, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older on general voting day; and
- Be a Canadian citizen; and
- Be a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration; and
- Be a resident in the voting jurisdiction (as per Section 67 of the Local Government Act); and
- Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or assent vote (referendum) or be otherwise disqualified by law.
- Resident Electors - FAQ
You do not need to own property to vote as a Resident Elector
Voting as a Non-Resident Property Elector
To register and vote as a non-resident property elector, you must:
- Not be entitled to register as a resident elector in the voting jurisdiction; and
- Be 18 years of age or older on general voting day; and
- Be a Canadian citizen; and
- Be a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration; and
- Be a registered owner of real property in the voting jurisdiction for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration; and
- Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act any other enactment from voting in an election or assent vote (referendum) or be otherwise disqualified by law.
In addition, for non-resident property electors:
- You have not registered as a non-resident property elector in relation to any other parcel of property in the voting jurisdiction.
- The only persons who are registered owners of the property, either as joint tenants or tenants in common, are individuals who are not holding the property in trust for a corporation or another trust (corporations cannot vote).
- If more than one person is the registered owner of the property, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majority of the owners, register as a non-resident property elector.
- Non-Resident Property Electors - FAQ
- Application for Registration as Non-Resident Property Elector
- Non-Resident Property Elector Consent Form
Resources
Additional Resources, Guides, and Videos
For additional information related to the 2026 General Local Elections, please see the associated Elections Resources and FAQs.
For additional information related to the Carmichael Road Watermain Replacement Project Referendum, please see the associated Assent Vote (Referendum) Resources and FAQs.
Contact Information
Phone: 250-390-4111, toll free 1-877-607-4111
Email: vote@rdn.bc.ca
- Jacquie Hill, Chief Election Officer
- Nelda Richardson, Deputy Chief Election Officer
- Dilbar Rupa, Deputy Chief Election Officer
- Christine Holt, Deputy Chief Election Officer
- Shanna Patrickson, Deputy Chief Election Officer