Information for Voters

RESIDENTS

You are eligible to vote in the City of Vernon if you meet all of the following requirements. 

You are:

• 18 years of age or older on general voting day;
• a Canadian citizen;
• a resident of British Columbia for at least six months prior to voting day (April 16, 2026);
• a resident of the City of Vernon; and
• Are not disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment, from voting in an election or be otherwise disqualified by law.

NON-RESIDENTS

You must provide proof of ownership of the property for which you are voting and must meet all of the following requirements. 

You are:

• 18 years of age or older on general voting day;
• a Canadian citizen;
• a resident of British Columbia for at least six months prior to voting day (April 16, 2026);
• a registered owner of real property in the City of Vernon for at least 30 days prior to October 17, 2026
• Are not disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment, from voting in an election or be otherwise disqualified by law.

If there is more than one person on title for the property, you must provide written permission from the majority of property owners authorizing you as the sole individual to vote for that property.  Please find the Non-Resident Property Elector Consent Form here.

Please bring two pieces of identification which include your address and signature. Examples of acceptable identification:

• B.C. Driver's License
• B.C. Identification Card
• Certificate of Indian Status
• Owner's Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle License issued by ICBC
• B.C. Services Card (with or without photo)
• B.C. Care Card or Gold Care Card
• Ministry of Social Development Income Assistance Monthly Report Form
• Social Insurance Card
• Citizenship card
• Property tax notice issued by the City of Vernon
• Credit or debit card
• Utility bill (electricity, natural gas, water, telephone or cable service)

Please note the combination B.C. Driver’s License/Care Card is one piece of identification.

The City of Vernon uses same day registration, done at the time of voting, and the process is as follows:

• Eligible voters must provide two (2) separate pieces of acceptable identification (see list under Required ID to vote);
• Eligible voters must provide their full name, residential address, last six digits of their Social Insurance Number OR Date of Birth AND must sign a declaration.

Advance Voting Days are scheduled to allow those electors that would otherwise be absent from the City of Vernon on Election Day. 

Vote by Mail

You can choose to vote by mail ballot instead of voting in person. Ballots must be received by the Chief Election Officer by 8:00 pm on Election Day October 17, 2026. 

To request a mail ballot, you will need to submit an application to vote by mail (applications available starting September 16, 2026, Mail Ballots available starting October 7). The application and additional information will be available on the City’s election webpage and for pick-up at City Hall closer to the election. 

If you have difficulty entering the voting location, you may request to receive and mark your ballot outside (curbside voting). Election officials  will provide you with a ballot and a secrecy sleeve. You may choose to have someone who is accompanying you deposit the ballot in the voting machine or request an election official to do this for you.

If you require assistance with voting, you may also bring someone with you into the voting location to help you vote.  Please note they will be required to complete and sign a declaration in order to provide support.

If you have difficulty reading or writing English, you may bring a translator to assist at the voting location. The person assisting will be required to complete and sign a declaration in order to provide translation help.

No, you may vote only once as non-resident property owner if you own two or more properties and you must meet all other requirements.

Yes, you must provide proof of ownership of the property for which you are voting and must meet all of the following requirements. 

You are:

• 18 years of age or older on general voting day;
• a Canadian citizen;
• a resident of British Columbia for at least six months prior to voting day (April 17, 2026)
• a registered owner of real property in the City of Vernon for at least 30 days immediately before voting day (September 17, 2026);
• not disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment, from voting in an election or be otherwise disqualified by law.

If there is more than one person on title for the property, you must provide written permission from the majority of property owners authorizing you as the sole individual to vote for that property.  Please find the Non-Resident Property Elector Consent Form here.