Information for Voters

The Town uses the Provincial List of Electors for voting purposes.

To confirm if you are registered to vote in Sidney, you can contact the Administration Department by:

• Phone: 250-656-1139
• Email: admin@sidney.ca

If you are not on the voters list, you will be able to register in advance from July 27 until August 25, 2026 at Town Hall.

You are also able to register on voting days at the voting location. Please ensure you bring 2 pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) to prove both residency and identity.

To vote as a resident elector, you must meet the following requirements:

• 18 years of age or older on general voting day for the election;
• a Canadian citizen;
• a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration;
• a resident of the Town of Sidney; and
• not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or assent voting and not otherwise disqualified by law.

If you are not on the Voter’s List, you will need, at the time of voting, to have two of the following identification documents showing residency and identity, and one must contain a signature:

– BC Driver’s Licence*
– BC Services Card*
– BC Identification Card
– a document certifying registration under the Indian Act
– a citizenship or membership card issued by a First Nation
– a citizenship card issued by Metis Nation BC
– a Citizenship Card
– Social Insurance Number (SIN)
– ICBC Certificate of Insurance
– tax notice
– credit card or debit card
– utility bill (water, electrical, gas)

*If you have a combined BC Driver’s Licence and Service Card, it counts as only one piece of identification.

To vote as a non-resident property elector, you must meet the following requirements:

• 18 years of age or older on general voting day for the election;
• a Canadian citizen;
• a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration;
• a registered owner of real property in the Town of Sidney for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration;
• the only persons who are registered owners of the property, either as joint tenants or tenants in common, are individuals who are not holding the property in trust for a corporation or another trust;
• not entitled to register as a resident elector in the Town of Sidney;
• not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or assent voting and not otherwise disqualified by law; and
• if there is more than one registered owner of the property, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majority of the owners, register as a non-resident property elector. 

A person may register as a non-resident property elector only in relation to one parcel of real property in a municipality.  If the property is under joint or multiple ownership, only one individual may vote upon written consent of a majority of registered owners on title.

To register as a non-resident property elector at the time of voting, you will need:

• Proof of property ownership
• Two pieces of identification
• If applicable, written consent of a majority of the registered owners on title

Proof of Property Ownership

– Property tax notice/certificate
– Property assessment notice from BC Assessment
– State of Title Certificate
– Title Search

Identification

You will need to have two of the following identification documents showing residency and identity, and one must contain a signature:

– BC Driver’s Licence*
– BC Services Card*
– BC Identification Card
– a document certifying registration under the Indian Act
– a citizenship or membership card issued by a First Nation
– a citizenship card issued by Metis Nation BC
– a Citizenship Card
– Social Insurance Number (SIN)
– ICBC Certificate of Insurance
– tax notice
– credit card or debit card
– utility bill (water, electrical, gas)

*If you have a combined BC Driver’s Licence and Service Card, it counts as only one piece of identification.

The Town provides the following options for electors requiring assistance with voting:

• Curbside voting: when parked at the voting place, an election official may bring a ballot to your car where you will be able to vote without leaving the car. The election official would ensure that the secrecy of the ballot is maintained and will immediately insert the ballot into the vote counting machine. It is recommended that you have someone drive you so that they can enter the voting place and get the attention of an election official.
• Voting station: an accessible voting station in the voting place provides for easy access for wheelchairs, scooters and other mobility aids.
• Assistance marking a ballot / translation: another person, such as an election official, friend, or relative may assist you with your ballot. The person assisting will be required to sign a solemn declaration that they will preserve the secrecy of the ballot and/or will make the translation to the best of their ability.
• Visual Aid: a magnifier sheet (7”x10”) is available to assist with vision impairment.
• Mail Ballots: you may apply to receive a mail ballot. It is the voter’s responsibility to ensure the ballot is returned to the Town Hall by 4:00 pm on Friday, October 16, 2026.

The Town provides all eligible electors the opportunity to vote by mail ballot.

Information about the process can be found on the Mail Ballot Voting page.

• Elections BC Website
• Government of BC – Voting in Local Elections page