Non-Resident Property Electors

If you own property in the District of Sicamous and live elsewhere in BC, you may be eligible to vote as a non-resident property elector.

To vote in the 2022 General Local Election as a non-resident property elector, you must meet ALL of the following requirements:

• you are not entitled to register as a resident elector
• you have not registered as a non-resident property elector in relation to any other property in the District of Sicamous
• you are age 18 or older on the day you vote
• you are a Canadian citizen
• you have been a resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before the day you vote
  • April 4, 2022 or earlier if you vote in advance on October 5th
  • April 14, 2022 or earlier if you vote on general voting day October 15th
• you have been a registered owner of property in the District of Sicamous for at least 30 days immediately before the day you vote
  • September 4, 2022 or earlier if you vote in advance on October 5th
  • September 14, 2022 or earlier if you vote on general voting day October 15th
• the only persons who are registered owners of the property are individuals who are not holding the property in trust for a corporation or other trust
• if there is more than one registered owner on title, you have received the written consent of a majority of the other owners, authorizing you to be registered as the non-resident property elector
• you are not disqualified by law from voting
• you must register to vote prior to receiving a ballot

This means whichever of the following is applicable:

a) the owner of a registered estate in fee simple of the property, unless another person holds an interest in the property referred to in paragraphs (b) to (d);

b) the holder of the last registered agreement for sale, unless another person holds an interest in the property referred to in paragraph (c) or (d);

c) the tenant for life under a registered life interest in the property, unless another person holds an interest in the property referred to in paragraph (d);

d) the holder of a registered lease of the property for a term of at least 99 years.

You are not eligible to vote as a non-resident property elector if the property is registered in your company’s name. You are also not eligible to vote if you are holding the property in trust for a corporation or another trust.

If there is more than one property owner on title, only one may register as the non-resident property elector. The person registering must have the written consent of that number of owners who, together with the person registering, are a majority (if there are two persons on title, both must sign; if there are four persons on title, at least three must sign, etc.). In this instance, a Consent of Registered Owners for Non-Resident Property Elector Registration form must be submitted before registration can take place.

Non-Resident Property Elector Consent Form

The person living on the property may qualify as a resident elector because he or she is a resident of Sicamous. As a non-resident property owner, you are also eligible to vote as the property’s non-resident property elector, but you will still need the written consent of the other owner.

You may only vote as a non-resident property elector in relation to one piece of property in any jurisdiction. In other words, even if you own two pieces of property in the District of Sicamous, you may only vote once.

You must be a resident of BC for at least six months and have owned property in Sicamous for at least 30 days immediately before you register to vote.

• a person is a resident of the area where the person lives and to which, whenever absent, the person intends to return
• a person may be the resident of only one area at a time for the purposes of voting
• a person does not cease being a resident of an area by leaving the area for temporary purposes only

You can only register at the time of voting by completing an application form. You will be asked to provide two pieces of identification that prove who you are and where you live. One of them must have your signature on it.

You will also need to prove that you are entitled to register in relation to the property by providing a copy of proof of ownership. If there is more than one registered owner on title, you will also need to submit a Consent of Registered Owners for Non-Resident Property Elector Registration form.

Acceptable documents for providing proof of identity and residence are:

• BC Driver’s Licence
• BC Identification Card issued by the Motor Vehicle Branch
• BC Services Card
• ICBC Owner’s Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence
• BC Care Card or BC Gold CareCard
• Ministry of Social Development & Economic Security Request for Continued Assistance (Form SDES8)
• Social Insurance Card
• Citizenship Card
• Property tax notice
• Credit card or debit card
• Utility bill (electricity, natural gas, water, telephone or cable services)
• Birth certificate
• Canadian passport

Acceptable documents for providing proof of ownership are:

• Property tax notice
• Assessment notice
• Certificate of title

You may not vote in a British Columbia local government election if you:

• have been convicted of an indictable offence and are in custody;
• are involuntarily confined to a psychiatric or other institution because you were acquitted of, or found not criminally responsible for, an offence under the Criminal Code on account of mental disorder; or
• have been found guilty of an election offence.