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Election FAQ

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1. When is the next election?

Saturday, October 15, 2022

2. Where and when can I vote?

At any of the following 2022 voting opportunities, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM: Advance Voting Day #1 = Date TBD at City Hall (450 Mart Street, Williams Lake, BC) Advance Voting Day #2 = Date TBD at City Hall (450 Mart Street, Williams Lake, BC) General Election Day = Saturday, October 15, 2022 at the Marie Sharpe School Gym (260 Cameron Street, Williams Lake, BC) ***Special voting opportunities will also be held for residents of Cariboo Sunset Manor, Williams Lake Seniors Village and Glen Arbor Cariboo Park Home. Dates TBD.

3. Do I qualify to vote?

You can vote in a civic election in Williams Lake as a “resident elector” if you:

- Are a Canadian citizen**;
- Are 18 years of age or older on the day of registration, OR if an election or assent voting is in progress, I will be 18 years of age or older on general voting day for the election or assent voting;
- Have been a resident of BC for at least six (6) months immediately before the day of registration;
- Have been a resident of Williams Lake for at least thirty (30) days immediately before the day of registration;
- Are not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or assent voting and am not otherwise disqualified by law.

All City of Williams Lake residents who meet these requirements can vote. It does not matter whether you rent or own your home.

If you own property in Williams Lake but live somewhere else in BC, you are qualified to vote in the City of Williams Lake election as a “non-resident property elector” as long as you:

- Are a Canadian citizen**;
- Are 18 years of age or older on the day of registration, OR if an election or assent voting is in progress, I will be 18 years of age or older on general voting day for the election or assent voting;
- Have been a resident of BC for at least six (6) months immediately before the day of registration;
- Have been a registered owner of real property in Williams Lake, registered in your name, for at least thirty (30) days immediately before the day of registration;
- Are not entitled to register as a resident elector in the City of Williams Lake;
- Have not registered as a non-resident property elector in relation to any other parcel of real property in the City of Williams Lake;
- Have received the written consent of the majority of individuals registered as owners of the real property to be registered as the non-resident property elector for this property (if there is more than one owner of the property); and
- Are not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or assent voting and am not otherwise disqualified by law.

Non-resident property electors can vote only once, regardless of the number of properties they own. If there is more than one registered owner of a property, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majority of the other owners, register as a non-resident property elector. If you have any questions about registering and voting as a “non-resident property elector”, contact the Chief Election Officer at 250-392-1773.

**Landed immigrants who are not yet Canadian citizens are not permitted to vote in civic elections.

4. Can I still vote if I do not live in the City of Williams Lake boundaries?

If you own property in Williams Lake but live somewhere else in BC, you are qualified to vote in the City of Williams Lake election as a “non-resident property elector”. You can vote as long as you:

- Are a Canadian citizen**;
- Are 18 years of age or older on the day of registration, OR if an election or assent voting is in progress, I will be 18 years of age or older on general voting day for the election or assent voting;
- Have been a resident of BC for at least six (6) months immediately before the day of registration;
- Have been a registered owner of real property in Williams Lake, registered in your name, for at least thirty (30) days immediately before the day of registration;
- Are not entitled to register as a resident elector in the City of Williams Lake;
- Have not registered as a non-resident property elector in relation to any other parcel of real property in the City of Williams Lake;
- Have received the written consent of the majority of individuals registered as owners of the real property to be registered as the non-resident property elector for this property (if there is more than one owner of the property); and
- Are not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or assent voting and am not otherwise disqualified by law.

Non-resident property electors can vote only once, regardless of the number of properties they own. If there is more than one registered owner of a property, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majority of the other owners, register as a non-resident property elector. If you have any questions about registering and voting as a “non-resident property elector”, contact the Chief Election Officer at 250-392-1773.

**Landed immigrants who are not yet Canadian citizens are not permitted to vote in civic elections.

5. When will we know who is running for Mayor and Councillors?

The nomination period closes on DATE TBD, 2022 at 4:00 PM. A notice of election will be placed in the local newspaper and on our website the following week, indicating who the candidates are.

6. Is my name on the current list of electors?

If you are not sure, you can find out by calling or visiting the Corporate Services office at City Hall, 2nd Floor, 450 Mart Street, Williams Lake, BC, 250-392-1773 or 250-392-1774. The office is open from 8:30 AM to 12:00 noon and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays. Advance elector registrations will be accepted until DATE TBD. With the exception of registrations on voting days, elector registrations will not be accepted during the period of DATES TBD.

7. Can I register to vote on election day?

Yes. After the close of advance elector registrations on DATE TBD, 2022, both resident and non-resident property electors may still register at the time of voting, during each of the advance, special and general voting opportunities.

8. Do I need identification to vote?

Yes. Resident Electors must produce two (2) valid pieces of identification in order to prove both identity and residency in the City of Williams Lake, one of which must have a signature. Valid ID include: -BC Driver’s License -Williams Lake Tax Notice -ICBC Vehicle Insurance Documents -Social Insurance Card -BC Identification Card -Credit Card -BC CareCard or Gold CareCard -Utility Bill -Citizenship Card.  Non-Resident Electors must produce two (2) valid pieces of identification in order to prove identity, one of which must have a signature, as well as proof of ownership of property in the City of Williams Lake. If there are other owners of the property in question, you must also have written consent from the majority of all the owners stating that you are the one owner who is designated as the Non-Resident (Property) Elector for that property. Non-resident property electors can vote only once, regardless of the number of properties they own. ***Property registered in company/corporation names do not qualify under the Local Government Act to vote in this municipal election.

9. Do you offer curbside voting for persons with disabilities?

Yes, curbside voting is available at both advance voting opportunities as well as on general voting day. Contact the Chief Election Officer at 250-392-1773 for more information.

10. Can I vote if I am out of town in October?

Individuals who will be unable to attend the advance voting opportunities or cast a ballot on General Voting Day will be able to vote by mail. For information on, and to pre-register for, a mail-in ballot, please visit the Corporate Services office at City Hall, or contact the Chief Election Officer at 250-392-1773.

11. Are mail-in ballots permitted?

Individuals who will be unable to attend the advance voting opportunities or cast a ballot on general voting day will be able to vote by mail. For information on, and to pre-register for, a mail-in ballot, please visit the Corporate Services office at City Hall, or contact the Chief Election Officer at 250-392-1773.

12. Do I have to vote for all six (6) Councillor positions on the ballot?

No. The ballot contains all the candidates running for office. Electors have a choice of voting for UP TO SIX (6) candidates, but are not required to vote for six (6). In other words, if you only have four (4) candidates you wish to vote for, you may do so.

13. Am I qualified to run for office?

You do not have to be a resident of or own property in the City of Williams Lake to be nominated, elected and to hold office as a member of local government. However, you must meet the following criteria (Section 66 of the Local Government Act):

- Canadian citizen (landed immigrants who are not yet Canadian citizens are not qualified);
- Will be 18 years of age or older on November 15, 2014;
- Resident of BC for at least the last six (6) months immediately before the day nomination papers are filed; and
- Not disqualified by the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election in BC or from being nominated for, being elected to, or holding office.

14. Do I have to live in the City of Williams Lake to run for office?

No. The Local Government Act does not limit candidates to residents of the communities.

15. How to I get nominated?

(Sections 69 to 73 of the Local Government Act). Candidates must be nominated by two qualified resident electors to run for Mayor OR Councillor. Nomination packages for Mayor and Councillor will be available as of DATE TBD, 2022 from the Corporate Services Division at City Hall, 450 Mart Street. Nomination packages for School Board Trustee will be available from School District No. 27. Nominations for Mayor and Councillor must be filed with the Chief Election Officer or the Deputy Election Officer at City Hall and will only be accepted between 9:00 AM on DATE TBD and 4:00 PM on DATE TBD, 2022. A nomination deposit is not required.

16. How many nominators do I need to run for office?

Two eligible electors from the local government where the person is seeking election.

See the Candidate’s Guide to Local Government Elections in BC link below for more information.

17. Where do I get nomination papers and when is the period for filing them?

Nomination packages for Mayor and Councillor will be available as of DATE TBD, 2022 from the Corporate Services Division at City Hall, 450 Mart Street. Nomination packages for School Board Trustee will be available from School District No. 27. Nominations for Mayor and Councillor must be filed with the Chief Election Officer or the Deputy Election Officer at City Hall and will only be accepted between 9:00 AM on DATE TBD and 4:00 PM on DATE TBD, 2022. A nomination deposit is not required.

18. What are the rules for campaign signs?

City of Williams Lake Sign Bylaw No. 2153, 2012, Part I, Section C-6.g. “Signs Permitted in all Zones” states the following:

“Political campaign signs on behalf of candidates for public office or referendum on election ballots provided that such sign shall be removed within four days following the election. Such signs shall not be installed:

i. On or over a street, including any boulevards or public rights of ways; and,
ii. On private property, without the written consent of the property owner where the sign will be located.”

See the Candidate’s Guide to Local Government Elections in BC link below for more information.

19. Where can I find information on campaign financing, elector organizations and third party sponsors?

On May 29, 2014, the Government of British Columbia gave Royal Assent to the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act (LECFA) and the Local Elections Statutes Amendment Act (LESAA). The new rule changes in LECFA and LESAA are now in force and will affect candidates, elector organizations and third party advertising sponsors for the November 2014 general local elections.

See the Local Election Campaign Financing Act and the Local Elections Statutes Amendment Act under “Related Documents & Links” below.

For more information or answers to questions about LECFA election advertising, third party advertising and campaign financing rules, please contact Elections BC at 250-387-5305, 1-855-952-0280 (toll free), or electoral.finance@elections.bc.ca.

20. Where can I find information on financial disclosure requirements?

See the Financial Disclosure Act and the Candidate’s Guide to Local Government Elections in BC under “Related Documents & Links” below.

21. What is an Elector Organization?

An Elector Organization is an organization that encourages the election of a particular candidate. If the organization wants to have its name appear on the ballot with the candidate’s name, it must have been in existence for 60 days and have had a membership of 50 electors of the local government for that period. Elector organizations are bound by the same campaign fundraising and disclosure rules as candidates.

See the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development link under “Related Documents & Links” below for more information.

22. What is a Campaign Organizer?

A campaign organizer is a group or individual that encourages the election of a particular candidate or support for a particular elector organization through a series of campaign activities.

An individual, other than a candidate, who undertakes an election campaign is a campaign organizer only if he or she accepts financial support for the campaign activities from other people or groups. A group does not need to be incorporated under the Society Act to be a campaign organizer.

Campaign organizers are bound by the same campaign fundraising restrictions and disclosure rules as candidates.

See the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development link under “Related Documents & Links” below for more information.

23. Does the public have access to candidates’ nomination documents?

Yes. As authorized under Section 73 of the Local Government Act, public access to nomination documents will be provided by Internet access until 30 days after the declaration of the election results under Section 136 of the Local Government Act.

24. What was the voter turnout for past municipal elections in Williams Lake?

2018: 3,051 of the 8,072 eligible electors voted = voter turnout of 37.8%
2014: 3,565 of the 7,780 eligible electors voted = voter turnout of 45.8%
2011: 3,638 of the 7,173 eligible electors voted = voter turnout of 50.7%
2008: 2,989 of the 6,682 eligible electors voted = voter turnout of 44.7%
2005: 3,857 of the 7,769 eligible electors voted = voter turnout of 49.6%

25. Who can I contact if I have questions?

Chief Election Officer at 250-392-1773
Deputy Election Officer at 250-392-1774