Alternative Approval Process

About the Process

• About the Alternative Approval Process

  Under the Community Charter, local governments such as the City of Vernon may use an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to directly engage citizens about a proposed bylaw or other matter requiring elector approval. An AAP can be used for various initiatives to undertake long-term borrowing, a boundary extension, to establish a new service, entering into partnering agreements, disposing of parkland, seeking a boundary extension and other matters requiring approval of the electorate.

• How an AAP works

  A staff report is provided to City Council that describes the plan for conducting the AAP.  It includes key information about the proposed elector approval process to ensure elected officials fully understand the implications of using an AAP to obtain approval. The report also provides staff with an opportunity to plan the process to conduct the potential AAP.
  Elector response forms are made available at City Hall and on the City’s website.  Please note: The City can only accept original signed forms – digital signatures will not be accepted.  Signed forms received after the deadline has passed cannot be counted.  If 10 per cent or more of the total number of eligible electors sign and submit response forms, local government cannot proceed with the proposed matter without first holding an assent vote (i.e. referendum).

Eligibility to participate in an AAP

• Elector Eligibility

  Resident Electors

  A Resident property elector is an individual who is qualified to vote in a jurisdiction by virtue of living (residing) in the City of Vernon.  To sign an elector response form as a resident elector a person must:

  • Be 18 years of age or older at the time of signing this elector response form; and
  • Be a Canadian Citizen; and
  • Have lived-in British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before signing this elector response form; and
  • Have been a City of Vernon resident for at least the last 30 days before signing this elector response form; and
  • Not be disqualified by any enactment from voting in an election or otherwise disqualified by law.

  Non-Resident Property Elector

  A Non-Resident property elector is an individual who does not live (does not reside) in the City of Vernon but is entitled to vote by virtue of owning a real property in the City of Vernon.  To sign an elector response form as a non-resident property elector a person must:

  • Not be entitled to register a resident elector in the City of Vernon; and
  • Be 18 years of age or older at the time of signing this elector response form; and
  • Be a Canadian Citizen; and
  • Having lived in British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before signing this elector response form; and
  • Not be disqualified by any enactment from voting in an election or otherwise disqualified by law; and
  • Be the only persons who are registered owners of the real property, either a joint tenants or tenants in common, are individual who are not holding the property in trust for a corporation or another trust.
  • Be a registered owner of real property within the City of Vernon for at least 30 days before signing this elector response form.
    • If a property is owned by more than one individual, only one of them may sign an elector response form (with the written consent of the majority of the owners);
    • A person may register as a non-resident property elector in relation to one parcel of real property in the City of Vernon.

  The link to Non-Resident Property Elector Consent Form is here.

  Note:  There is no Corporate Vote - No corporation is entitled to be registered as an elector or have a representative registered as an elector and no corporation is entitled to vote.

Active Applications