Information for Voters

The District of Highlands encourages all eligible electors—including residents of the District and non-resident property owners—to participate in the election. To vote, eligible electors must be registered.

The District uses the Provincial Voters List. If you are already registered from a previous election or have completed online voter registration by July 10, 2026, you should be included on the District’s List of Electors.

If you are not currently registered and missed the advance registration deadline, you can still register in person at an advance voting opportunity or on General Voting Day before casting your ballot.

To register at the time of voting, resident electors must provide two pieces of identification showing their identity and residency, with at least one piece bearing their signature. Photo identification is not required.

A list of acceptable identification is as follows as per the Local Government Elections Regulation:

British Columbia Driver's Licence
BC identification card
Photo BC services card
Non-photo BC services card
Car Insurance papers
BC Care Card
Social Insurance number
Citizenship Card issued by the Government of Canada
Property Tax Notice
Credit or Debit card
Utility bill such as cable, electricity, gas, telephone, water
Indian Status Card issued by the government of Canada
Citizenship or membership card issued by a first nation
Citizenship card issued by Metis Nation BC

The following may be accepted at the discretion of the Presiding Election Officer:

Valid current passport
Birth certificate
Firearms licence

Resident Electors

In order to be eligible to vote in general local elections or by-elections as a resident elector, a person must:

Be 18 years of age or older when they register to vote or 18 years or older on general voting day
Be a Canadian citizen
Have been a resident of B. C. for at least six months immediately before they register to vote
Be a resident of the municipality or electoral area;
Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment from voting in local elections or be otherwise disqualified by law

Eligible electors without a fixed address or who reside in a tiny home or RV without a residential address may still register to vote as a resident elector in the local government they usually reside.

Voter ineligibility
Resident electors are not eligible to vote in a local election if they:

Have been convicted and sentenced for an indictable offence and are in custody
Have been found guilty of an election offence, such as intimidation or vote-buying
Do not otherwise meet voter eligibility requirements

Non-Resident Property Electors

When a person lives in one jurisdiction and owns property in one or more other jurisdictions, they may vote once in each of the other jurisdictions where they own property - as long as they meet the voter eligibility requirements.

A non-resident property elector must:

Be 18 years of age or older when they register to vote, or 18 years or older on general voting day
Be a Canadian citizen
Have been a resident of B. C. for at least six months immediately before they register to vote
Be the registered owner of real property in the jurisdiction where they intend to vote for at least 30 days immediately before they register to vote;
Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment from voting in local elections or be otherwise disqualified by law.

Only one person is eligible to vote as the non-resident property elector for that property when a person owns a property with one or more other individuals. The owner entitled to vote must be designated, in writing, by the majority of the property owners

A person cannot vote on behalf of a corporation, or as a non-resident property elector, based on a property owned wholly or in part by a corporation.

Non resident property electors must show two pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) to prove identity and eligibility in relation to the property (e.g., property tax notice, certificate of title). If applicable, written consent from the majority of property owners must be provided. Only one owner may register as a non resident property elector.

The Non-Resident Property Elector Consent form is available here: Non-Resident Property Elector Consent Form or at the District Office. Original signatures are required.

Voter ineligibility
Resident electors and non-resident property electors are not eligible to vote in a local election if they:

Have been convicted and sentenced for an indictable offence and are in custody
Have been found guilty of an election offence, such as intimidation or vote-buying
Do not otherwise meet voter eligibility requirements