Glossary
The glossary below offers explanations of the key words and phrases associated with elections and electoral events in B.C.
Where a word or phrase is defined in legislation, links to the relevant section are provided below the entry.
| Absentee Voting | Voting during advance voting outside one’s electoral district of residence; voting on General Voting Day at any voting opportunity other than the one designated for a voter’s voting area of residence. Absentee ballots are counted at final count. (Election Act, s. 73 (d), (e)) |
| Advance Voting | An opportunity to vote before General Voting Day. Advance voting is held between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the week before General Voting Day. (Election Act, s. 76, 97) |
| Auditor | A person or firm that audits financing reports. Registered political parties, registered constituency associations, and candidates must appoint an auditor. (Election Act, s. 179) |
| Ballot | A document used by voters to indicate their vote in an election or electoral event. (Election Act, s. 86) |
| Ballot box | A container for marked ballots. (Election Act, s. 85) |
| By-election | An election held between general elections to fill an empty seat in the Legislative Assembly. A by-election is triggered when an MLA resigns, is disqualified from sitting, dies, or is successfully recalled. More than one by-election can be held on the same day. (Constitution Act, s. 35; Election Act, s. 1, 25; Recall and Initiative Act, s. 26-28) |
| Campaign Period | The time between when an election is called and the close of voting on General Voting Day. (Election Act, s. 1) |
| Candidate | A person who stands for election to the Legislative Assembly. To become a candidate, a person must meet the requirements of the Election Act, file nomination documents, and receive a certificate of candidacy from Elections BC. For election financing and election advertising purposes, a candidate includes an individual who becomes a candidate or who was a candidate. (Election Act, s. 1, 52-68) |
| Certification Envelope | An envelope used in administering absentee, alternative absentee, and special voting. The envelope must have spaces where the full name and residential address of the voter can be recorded, along with a space for the voter declaration. The certification envelope is used to ensure that the voter votes, and the ballot is counted, in the voter’s electoral district of residence. (Election Act, s. 87) |
| Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) | An independent Officer of the Legislature appointed by the Lieutenant Governor on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly. The Chief Electoral Officer is responsible for the administration of the provincial electoral process. (Election Act, s. 4-13) |
| Constituency | See Electoral District. |
| Constituency Association | An organization formed for an electoral district as the local organization of a political party or as the local organization to support an independent Member of the Legislative Assembly for that electoral district. (Election Act, s. 157) |
| Deputy Chief Electoral Officer (DCEO) | A person appointed to assist the Chief Electoral Officer with the duties of that office. (Election Act, s. 10, 12) |
| Deputy District Electoral Officer (DDEO) | An individual appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer to assist the District Electoral Officer (DEO) administer elections in their assigned electoral district. If the DEO becomes unable to carry out their duties, the DDEO takes on their role. More than one DDEO can be appointed to an electoral district. In such cases, the Chief Electoral Officer decides which DDEO will act as DEO if that person is no longer able to carry out their duties. (Election Act, s. 18-21) |
| Deputy District Registrar of Voters (DDRV) | A person appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer to help the District Registrar of Voters prepare and maintain the provincial voters list in an electoral district. (Election Act, s. 22, 23) |
| District Electoral Officer (DEO) | An individual, appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer, who is responsible for administering elections in their assigned electoral district. (Election Act, s. 18-21, 88) |
| District Registrar of Voters | A person appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer to prepare and maintain the provincial voters list in one or more electoral districts. (Election Act, s. 22, 23) |
| Elections BC (EBC) | The usual name for the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer. Elections BC administers the electoral process in B.C. This includes provincial general elections and by-elections, provincial referendums, and initiative and recall petitions and votes. (Election Act, s. 10 (1)) |
| Electoral District (ED) | A geographic area defined in the Electoral Districts Act that is represented in the Legislative Assembly by a single MLA. Electoral districts are also known as constituencies or ridings. B.C. is currently divided into 79 electoral districts. On April 14, 2009, the number of electoral districts will increase to 85. (Constitution Act, s. 18; Electoral Districts Act, s. 1-6) |
| Enumeration | A registration event directed to all eligible voters or specific groups of voters in one or more electoral districts. An enumeration is an opportunity to identify and register people who are eligible to vote, but have not yet registered. The information collected in an enumeration is used to prepare the provincial voters list. As of September, 2009, the Chief Electoral Officer must hold a door-to-door enumeration before every general election. The Chief Electoral Officer can also hold enumerations at other times, using any acceptable method. (Election Act, s. 42-44) |
| Final count | The final counting of ballots cast in an election or referendum. It is conducted by the District Electoral Officer and generally commences on Day 41 (the 41st day after an election is called). Final count includes a confirmation of initial count results as well as the counting of absentee ballots (those ballots in certification envelopes). (Election Act, s. 127-137) |
| Financial Agent | A person appointed to manage the finances of a person or group. Registered political parties, registered constituency associations, candidates, leadership contestants, and recall and initiative participants must appoint a financial agent. (Election Act, s. 175-178, Recall and Initiative Act, s. 29, 59, 107) |
| General Election | Elections called on the same date for all the electoral districts in the province. (Election Act, s. 1, 24, 26-28) |
| General Voting Day (GVD) | The day when an election is held. General Voting Day is Day 28 (the 28th day after the election is called). If it is a holiday, then General Voting Day is the next day that is not a holiday. (Election Act, s. 27) |
| Independent | A candidate or MLA who does not represent a political party. (Election Act, s. 1) |
| Initial count | The counting of ballots cast in general voting and advance voting, except those ballots in certification envelopes (absentee ballots). It starts at the close of voting on General Voting Day. Scrutineers, who represent candidates, are allowed to observe initial count. After the initial count, the DEO announces the preliminary results of the election. Final results are determined after final count, when absentee ballots are counted. (Election Act, s. 115-126) |
| Initiative | A process through which any registered voter can propose a law, or changes to an existing law, on matters over which the provincial Legislature has authority. (Recall and Initiative Act, s. 2-18, 29-106) |
| Judicial Recount | A recount by the Supreme Court of some or all of the votes in an election. If two or more candidates in an electoral district receive the same number of votes, or are separated by less than 0.2% of the votes cast, the District Electoral Officer must apply for a judicial recount. Voters and candidates can also apply for a judicial recount if they think errors were made in the consideration or counting of ballots. (Election Act, s. 139-145) |
| Legislative Assembly | A body composed of 85 elected members (MLAs), who each represent a single electoral district. The role of the Legislative Assembly is to pass legislation, approve public finances, and scrutinize government. (Constitution Act, s. 17) |
| Legislature of British Columbia | The formal name for the body that makes provincial laws. It includes the Lieutenant Governor and the Legislative Assembly. In order for a bill to become law, it must be passed by the Legislative Assembly and signed by the Lieutenant Governor. |
| Lieutenant Governor | The representative of the Queen in British Columbia. Along with other formal powers, the Lieutenant Governor can dissolve the Legislative Assembly and order a general election as they see fit. In practice, this power is exercised at the request of the Premier on the fixed election date established in the Constitution Act, or if the government loses the confidence of a majority of MLAs. (Constitution Act, s. 3, 23) |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) | A person elected to represent an electoral district in the Legislative Assembly. (Constitution Act, s. 18) |
| National Register of Electors (NRoE) | A list of registered voters maintained by the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada for use in federal elections. (Canada Elections Act, s. 44-56) |
| Nomination Period | The period when a person can be nominated as a candidate. To become a candidate, nominees must file nomination documents with the Chief Electoral Officer. (Election Act, s. 1, 56, 57) |
| Official Agent | A person appointed by a candidate to serve as their representative during an election. A person can be appointed as both the financial agent and the official agent of the same candidate. (Election Act, s. 1, 69) |
| Political Party | An organization that has as a primary purpose the fielding of candidates for election to the Legislative Assembly. (Election Act, s. 155) |
| Recall | A process through which a registered voter can petition to remove a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from office between elections. Registered voters can only petition to recall the MLA for the electoral district in which they are registered to vote. An MLA cannot be recalled during the first 18 months after they are elected. (Recall and Initiative Act, s. 19-28, 107-153) |
| Referendum | An electoral event in which registered voters are asked to express their opinion on a matter of public interest or concern. During a referendum, registered voters mark a ballot in response to one or more questions. The most recent referendum was the 2011 HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) Referendum. (Referendum Act; Electoral Reform Referendum 2009 Act) |
| Rejected Ballot | A ballot that is not counted. A ballot is rejected if it:
(Election Act. s. 123) |
| Return Day | The day when the District Electoral Officer must return the Writ of Election and other documents to the Chief Electoral Officer. Return Day is usually Day 50 (the 50th day after an election is called). (Election Act, s. 146) |
| Riding | See Electoral District. |
| Scrutineer | A person appointed in writing by a candidate or the candidate’s official agent to watch the voting and counting proceedings in an election. Also called candidate representatives. (Election Act, s. 70) |
| Special Voting Opportunity | An opportunity to vote for eligible voters who cannot visit a regular voting place because they are in hospital, a mental health facility, a long-term care facility, a remote work site or a correctional centre. (Election Act, s. 77, 98) |
| Spoiled Ballot | A ballot that is marked inappropriately or in such a way that it would be rejected. If a voter spoils their ballot and would like a replacement, they can do so by giving the spoiled ballot to an election official. (Election Act, s. 113) |
| Statement of Votes (SOV) | A report prepared by the Chief Electoral Officer after an election or referendum. The report contains a review of the proceedings, results, and costs of the electoral event, and is submitted to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. (Election Act, s. 13 (1) (b)) |
| Time | All times referred to in the Election Act are local times, except for the close of nominations and voting hours on General Voting Day, which are in Pacific time. (Election Act, s. 2) |
| Voter | A person who votes during an electoral event by marking their choice on a ballot. Voters must meet certain qualifications and be registered with the Chief Electoral Officer. (Election Act, s. 29, 31) |
| Voter Registration Official (VRO) | A person appointed by the District Registrar of Voters on a temporary basis to help register voters in an electoral district. (Election Act, s. 23) |
| Voters List | A list prepared by the Chief Electoral Officer that contains the names and addresses of registered voters in each electoral district. (Election Act, s. 45-51) |
| Voting Area (VA) | An area containing up to 400 registered voters. Each electoral district is divided into voting areas that are used to assign voters to voting places. (Election Act, s. 1, 80) |
| Voting Book | A book that contains a listing of registered voters and a record of who voted at a specific voting station or voting opportunity. (Election Act, s. 84) |
| Voting Clerk (VC) | A person appointed by the District Electoral Officer to help the Voting Officer. (Election Act, s. 19, 88) |
| Voting Officer (VO) | The election official appointed by the District Electoral Officer to conduct the vote at a particular voting station. (Election Act, s. 19, 88) |
| Voting Place | The building or facility where voters of one or more voting areas are assigned to vote. (Election Act, s. 1, 81) |
| Voting Screen | A screen in a voting place behind which voters go to mark their ballot in private. (Election Act, s. 83) |
| Voting Station | A table in a voting place with a Voting Officer, a Voting Clerk and a ballot box. Voters in a voting area are assigned to vote at a voting station. (Election Act, s. 82) |
| Writ of election | A formal order signed by the Chief Electoral Officer and the Lieutenant Governor that directs a District Electoral Officer to conduct an election. An election is called when the writ of election has been issued. In a general election, a writ is issued for every electoral district in the province. (Election Act, s. 1, 26) |
