Who Can Vote
Who can vote
To vote in a provincial election you must:
- be registered as a voter,
- be a Canadian citizen,
- be at least 18 years old on General Voting Day,
- be a resident of the electoral district where the election is being held,
- have lived in B.C. for the six months before General Voting Day, and
- not be disqualified from voting.
Who cannot vote
If you are convicted of certain election offences, you may be disqualified from voting. Election offences are outlined in Part 12 of the Election Act, and include:
- vote buying
- intimidating voters to vote a certain way, or to refrain from voting
- voting twice, or voting when you are not eligible to do so
Because of the need for absolute impartiality in their positions, the Chief Electoral Officer and the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer of British Columbia are also prohibited from voting.
Voting places
If you are a registered voter, Elections BC will send you a “Where to Vote” card in the mail prior to General Voting Day. The card will indicate where you have been assigned to vote.
Voters can find information about voting opportunities on this website or by phoning toll-free 1-800-661-8683.
Voting opportunities
There are several opportunities to vote in a provincial election, including:
General voting
General Voting Day for an election is the 28th day after the date on which the election is called. If that day is a holiday, General Voting Day is the next day that is not a holiday. Most voters use general voting.
To vote at general voting, visit the voting place you have been assigned to between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Pacific time.
Advance voting
Advance voting is an opportunity to vote before General Voting Day. It is held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of the week before General Voting Day.
To vote during advance voting, visit any advance voting location in your electoral district. More information about advance voting will be made available on this website, in advertisements in your local newspapers and on the yellow “Where to Vote” card mailed to your address.
Absentee voting
If you cannot visit your assigned voting location, absentee voting lets you vote at any voting place in the province. To vote by absentee voting, visit the voting place that is most convenient for you.
If you visit a voting place in the electoral district where you are a resident, you will vote with an ordinary ballot. The ballot will list the names of the candidates in your electoral district. To vote for a candidate, make a cross or a tick mark in the space beside their name.
If you visit a voting place in a different electoral district, you will vote with a write-in ballot. Write-in ballots have a blank space instead of candidate names. To vote, write the name of your preferred candidate or registered political party on the ballot.
Alternative absentee voting
If you cannot vote at any voting place, alternative absentee voting lets you vote by mail or at the office of your District Electoral Officer. You qualify for alternative absentee voting if you:
- expect to be out of the province on General Voting Day,
- have a physical disability, illness, or injury which prevents you from visiting a voting place, or
- are prevented from visiting a voting place for reasons out of your control, such as bad weather.
Special voting
The District Electoral Officer has the discretion to hold special voting opportunities 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. In these situations, the District Electoral officer will enable voters to vote at these locations by serving them with a mobile voting team.
Voting assistance
Someone else can help you mark your ballot if you need assistance due to a physical disability or if you have difficulty reading or writing. Please notify an election official at the voting place if you require assistance.
You can bring and use a translator in a voting place if you have difficulty with the English language.
Voting place accessibility
If you cannot enter a voting place because of a physical disability, you can ask to vote at the nearest place where you can gain access. For example, if you are unable to get out of a vehicle, election officials will assist you to cast your ballot while you remain in the vehicle. All advance voting locations are wheelchair accessible.
Time off from work for voting
You are entitled to four consecutive hours off from work between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on General Voting Day if you are an eligible voter. It is up to your employer to decide when during the day you can take this time off. It is illegal for your employer to deduct pay or penalize you for taking time off to vote. Employers and employees are encouraged to work together so that all eligible voters can vote without disrupting business operations.
You are not entitled to take time off if your place of work is so remote that it would be unreasonable to try and reach a voting place during voting hours.
