Local Government Elections

The Chief Election Officer as appointed by District of Sechelt Council is responsible for conducting local government elections. In British Columbia, the Community Charter mandates that municipal elections for the Mayor and all Councillors be held every three years on the third Saturday in November.

In advance of election day, the Chief Election Officer advertises in the local newspaper, calling for nominations, naming the candidates that are running and outlining how qualified citizens may vote.

When is the Next Election?

November 2014
The electors of the District of Sechelt will elect:

• one (1) Mayor;
• six (6) Councillors; and
• two (2) School Trustees.

The District of Sechelt elections are conducted using automated vote tabulating machines. This ensures that all election results are obtained without delay after the close of voting on voting day. 

Do I qualify to vote?

You may vote in the civic election in the District of Sechelt as a Resident Elector if you:

• are 18 years or older on election day;
• are a Canadian citizen;
• have lived in BC for at least 6 months before election day;
• have lived in the District of Sechelt for at least 30 days before election day; and
• are not disqualified from voting for any other reason.  

All District of Sechelt residents who meet these requirements can vote. It doesn’t matter whether you rent or own your home.  

Non-Resident Property Elector

If you own property in the District of Sechelt and somewhere else in B.C., you can also vote in the District of Sechelt election as a Non-Resident Property Elector if you:

• are 18 years of age or older on election day;
• are a Canadian citizen;
• have lived in BC for at least 6 months before election day;
• are the registered owner of real property in the District of Sechelt for at least 30 days before election day; and
• have not been disqualified from voting for any other reason.  

Non-resident property electors can vote only once, regardless of the number of properties you own. If there is more than one registered owner of your property, only one of you may, with the written consent of the majority of the other owners, register as a non-resident property elector.

Landed immigrants who are not yet Canadian citizens are not permitted to vote in local government elections. 

Special voting opportunities will be available. Voters must be either residents or patients admitted into the Hospital, or facility staff, who are eligible Sechelt voters.  

Yes.  Advance Voting Opportunities will be available.

Can I vote by mail?

Electors may vote by mail if they:

(a) have a physical disability, illness or injury that affects their ability to vote at another voting opportunity; OR
(b) expect to be absent from Sechelt on elsection day and at the Advance Voting Opportunities.

You are allowed to vote if you are registered as:

(a)   a resident elector (you live in the District of Sechelt) OR
(b)   a non-resident property elector (you live elsewhere in BC but you own property in the District of Sechelt)

You must meet all of the following requirements to vote:

1.  are 18 years of age or older on election day;
2.  are a Canadian citizen;
3.  have lived in BC for at least 6 months immediately before you register to vote.
4.  You must have
 (a) been a resident of the District of Sechelt for at least 30 days immediately before you register to vote 
      (for resident electors),  OR
 (b) owned land in the District of Sechelt for at least 30 days immediately before you register to vote 
      (for non-resident property electors).
5.  You must not have been disqualified by law from voting. 

You must register on the District of Sechelt List of Electors. If you are not already on the List of Electors, an application form will be included in your mail ballot package.