2014 Local Government General Elections, Other Voting & Mail Ballot Voting
By Advertorial
OTHER VOTING & MAIL BALLOT VOTING
On Saturday, November 15, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) will hold the Local Government General Elections for the office(s) of Director(s) for the RDKB jurisdictions of: Electoral Area ‘A’, Electoral Area of Lower Columbia/Old Glory (Electoral Area ‘B’), Electoral Area of Christina Lake (Electoral Area ‘C’), Electoral Area ‘D’/Rural Grand Forks, and Electoral Area of West Boundary (Electoral Area ‘E’).
Who Can Vote By Mail?
RDKB Electors may vote by mail if you:
-
have a physical disability, illness or injury that affects your ability to vote on General Voting Day, Saturday, November 15, 2014 or on one of the two advanced voting opportunities (Wednesday, November 5th and Wednesday, November 12th)
OR - expect to be absent from the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary on General Voting Day (Saturday, November 15) and at the times of all advance voting opportunities (Wednesday, November 5th and Wednesday, November 12th).
Most of the rules for voting and registering by mail are the same as those rules for those who will vote at the regular polling stations.
Who is Eligible to Vote? (Regular and Mail Ballot Voting)
You are allowed to vote if you are registered as:
- a Resident Elector (i.e. you live in RDKB Electoral Area A, B, C, D, or E).
- a Non-Resident Property Elector (you live elsewhere in B.C. but you own property in one of the RDKB’s Electoral Areas (e.g. A, B, C, D or E) or you own property in more than one of the RDKB’s Electoral Areas (e.g. A, B, C, D or E).
***Note: In order to vote as a Non Resident Property Elector (2) above you must have written consent of the majority of the owners who may be on title of such property (should there be more than one owner of said property).
All Electors (regular and mail ballot electors) must meet all of the following requirements to vote:
- You must be 18 years of age or older on general voting day (November 15, 2014)
- You must be a Canadian citizen
- You must have been a resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before you register to vote.
-
You must:
a) have been a resident of the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary Electoral Areas A, B, C, D, or E for at least 30 days immediately before you register to vote (for Resident Electors),
OR
b) be a registered owner of real property in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary Electoral Areas A, B, C, D, or E for at least 30 days immediately before you register to vote (for Non-Resident Property Electors). - You must not have been disqualified by law from voting.
How Do You Register to Vote? (Regular and Mail Ballot Registration)
You must register on the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary List of Registered Electors, either in advance (until September 23, 2014) or at the time of voting (i.e. at advanced polls on November 5th and 12th or on General Voting Day November 15th).
Advance Registration: If you are not on the List of Registered Electors, and wish to register in advance until September 23, 2014 please contact the RDKB Chief Election Officer (250-368-0225 or tlenardon@rdkb.com) for paper-copies of the Application to Register as a Resident Elector form or in the case of a Non-Resident Property Elector, the Application to Register as a Non-Resident Property Elector form and the Non-Resident Property Elector Consent form.
OR
Download the forms from the RDKB website at: www.rdkb.com –Elections and Referendums.
For Mail Ballot Voting: If you miss the advance registration (until September 23, 2014), the appropriate Application to Register forms and consent forms, should they be necessary will be included in your Mail Ballot Application package or in the Mail Ballot Voting package.
Voting at the Polls: If you miss the advance registration (September 23, 2014), the appropriate Application to Register forms and consent forms, should they be necessary, will be provided at the polling stations on advanced voting opportunities (November 5th and November 12th) and on General Voting Day November 15, 2014.
Required Identification and Submission of Registration Forms
Pursuant to Section 57 (1) (a) and (b), Section 57 (2) (a) and (b) and Section 57 (3) of the Local Government Act, electors who are not already registered to vote in the RDKB jurisdiction and who wish to do so, must provide two pieces of identification that together prove who you are and where you live. One of them must have your signature on it (i.e. Driver’s License).
Photo identification is not required.
Advanced Registration: Anyone (e.g. regular electors and mail ballot electors) may register in advance before September 23, 2014 as follows:
-
Canada Post: submit a photocopy of two pieces of identification along with the Resident Elector Application for Registration form or with the Non-Resident Property Elector Application for Registration form via Canada Post to the Regional District offices: 202-843 Rossland Avenue, Trail, BC V1R 4S8; attention Chief Election Officer.
OR -
In-person: hand-deliver to the Chief Election Officer or designate at the RDKB Trail office a photocopy of two pieces of identification with the completed Resident Elector Application for Registration form or the Non-Resident Property Elector Application for Registration form.
OR -
E-MAIL a photocopy of two pieces of identification AND the completed Resident Elector Application for Registration form or the Non-Resident Property Elector Application for Registration form to the Chief Election Officer, Theresa Lenardon at tlenardon@rdkb.com.
OR - FAX a photocopy of two pieces of identification AND the completed Resident Elector Application for Registration form or the Non-Resident Property Elector Application for Registration form to the Chief Election Officer, Theresa Lenardon at 250-368-3990.
Mail Ballot Electors who are not already on the Regional District List of Registered Electors must submit a photocopy of two pieces of identification with their registration forms either when registering in advance, or when returning the completed Mail Ballot Application form, or when returning the completed Mail Ballot Voting package.
At the Polls Registration: Those who will be registering at the polls at the advanced voting opportunities November 5th or November 12th and those who will be registering at the polls on General Voting Day November 15th, 2014 will also be required to submit two pieces of identification.
Acceptable identification includes:
- BC Driver’s License
- BC CareCard or Gold CareCard
- BC Identification Card 4. Citizenship Card
- Social Insurance Card
- Credit Card
If you wish to confirm that your name is on the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary List of Registered Electors, or you want to register a change of name or address, contact the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary Chief Election Officer, Theresa Lenardon at 250-368-0225 or tlenardon@rdkb.com.
Mail Ballot Electors – Requesting a Mail Ballot Application Form
Mail Ballot Electors may apply for a Mail Ballot Application form beginning October 10, 2014.
Once you have obtained a Mail Ballot Application form, you must complete it and submit it with all required documentation, including acceptable identification and registration forms if necessary, to the Chief Election Officer or designate no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 7, 2014 ensuring that all information requested for on the form is provided.
The completed Mail Ballot Application form and other required documentation can be submitted to the Chief Election Officer by: 1) regular mail through Canada Post to 202-843 Rossland Avenue, Trail, BC V1R 4S8 2) e-mail (tlenardon@rdkb.com) or 3) fax (250-368-3990).
***Upon receipt of an application for a Mail Ballot Voting package and after the Nomination Period has expired and ballots have been ordered, printed and delivered to the Chief Election Officer, the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary will begin to send out the said packages sometime at the end of October.
***To be counted for the election or other voting, your mail ballot must be received by the Chief Election Officer or designate at the RDKB offices 202-843 Rossland Avenue, Trail, BC or at other designated locations (to be determined) no later than 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2014. Further information regarding mail ballot voting will be published closer to the Election.
***It is the sole responsibility of the person applying for a mail ballot package to ensure that the mail ballot is received by the Chief Election Officer or designate within this timeline.
Please note that the requirements specified in this notification are established by Provincial legislation found in Parts 3 and 4 of the Local Government Act. No alteration from these requirements can or will be permitted.
Contact Information
Theresa Lenardon, Chief Election Officer tlenardon@rdkb.com
250-368-9148 (Reception) 250-368-0225 (Direct) 1-800-355-7352 (in BC only)
202-843 Rossland Avenue
Trail, BC V1R 4S8
Bryan Teasdale, Deputy Chief Election Officer bteasdale@rdkb.com
Mark Andison, Deputy Chief Election Officer mandison@rdkb.com\
This information is also published on the RDKB website: http://www.rdkb.com
Theresa Lenardon,
Chief Election Officer
