2026 General Local Elections - Voting Day Registration
To find out if you are on the voters list, please visit the Regional District of Nanaimo Administration (RDN) Office, Legislative Services Department, located at 6300 Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo, during regular office hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, or call (250) 390-4111 and toll free at 1-877-607-4111.
A resident elector cannot pre-register to vote. The voters list is prepared using the provincial list of voters.
An eligible non-resident property elector may pre-register to vote at the RDN Office, Legislative Services Department, until 4:30 p.m. on August 25, 2026.
Under the Local Government Act, advance registration for non-resident property electors closes 53 days before General Voting Day and does not reopen until the Monday after the close of General Voting. Non-resident property electors who are not registered by August 25, 2026, may still register at the time of voting.
If you arrive on voting day to vote and you are not on the voters list, you may register at the time of voting by completing an application form available at the voting place. Registration is available at all voting places on general voting day, October 17, 2026, and at advance polls on October 7, 2026 and October 14, 2026. To register you must meet the following qualifications:
To Register as a Resident Elector:
To register as a resident elector you must meet the following qualifications:
- 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 of 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 must also provide the following items:
- Two pieces of identification (at least one with a signature). Picture identification is not necessary. The identification must prove both residency and identity;
- OR if you do not have a document that proves your residence, you may provide two documents for identity, at least one with a signature, and make a solemn declaration to confirm residency - declaration forms will be available at the voting place.
To Register as a Non-Resident Property Elector:
To register as a non-resident property elector you must meet the following qualifications:
- 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 or 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 must also provide the following items:
- Two pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) to prove identity; and
- Proof of ownership of the property in the voting area, such as your Property Tax Notice, Land Title Registration or BC Assessment Notice; and
- If there is more than one owner of the property, written consent of the majority of the property owners. Note: Only one non-resident property elector is entitled to vote per property. Corporations cannot vote or register to vote.
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