Election Information
What and When
General Local Elections are held every three years for Mayor and Council. Candidates are voted in for a three-year term. The next General Local Election will be held in 2014. Electors in Terrace vote to choose:
- One (1) Mayor
- Six (6) Councillors
If you want to speak to someone about the Terrace Election you can call the City Clerk at 250.638.4722.
Who Can Run for Council?
A person is qualified to be nominated, elected, and to hold office as a member of local government if they meet the following criteria:
- Canadian citizen;
- 18 years of age or older on General Voting Day;
- Resident of B.C. for at least 6 months immediately before the day nomination papers are filed;
- Are not disqualified by the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an Election in B.C. or from being nominated for, being elected to, or holding office.
Nominations Information
Nomination documents for persons interested in running for the office of Mayor or Councillor will be available for pick up at City Hall starting late summer 2014. Nomination documents must be filed with the City Clerk's office at City Hall or with the Chief Election Officer during the nomination period.
Who Can Vote?
- All City of Terrace residents who meet the eligibility criteria listed below can vote. People who own property in Terrace but live outside Terrace can also vote.
- Landed immigrants who are not yet Canadian citizens are not permitted to vote in civic Elections.
- 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.
Only City of Terrace residents and non-resident property owners are eligible to vote in the Terrace Election.
Terrace Resident Elector - Eligibility
To vote in a civic Election in Terrace you must be at the time of voting:
- At least 18 years of age on or before General Voting Day;
- A Canadian citizen;
- Have lived in B.C. for at least six months;
- Have lived in the City of Terrace for at least 30 days; and
- Not disqualified from voting by any statute or law.
Non-Resident Property Elector - Eligibility
If you own property in Terrace but live somewhere else you can vote as long as you are:
- At least 18 years of age on or before General Voting Day;
- A Canadian citizen;
- Have lived in B.C. for at least six months;
- Have owned real property in the City of Terrace for at least 30 days;
- Not eligible to vote as a Resident Elector in the City of Terrace;
- Registered owners of the real property, either as joint tenants or tenants in common, not holding the property in trust for a corporation or another trust;
- Not disqualified from voting by any statute or law.
A qualifying non-resident property elector may register at the polls providing:
- 2 pieces of identification (one with residence address and one with your signature); and
- proof satisfactory to the official that the person applying is entitled to register in relation to the real property (e.g., current year's tax notice from the City of Terrace); and
if applicable, providing written consent from the other registered property owner/s of the real property.
DOWNLOAD Non-Resident Elector Consent Form
As a non-resident property elector you can vote only once, regardless of the number of properties you own. If you have more than one registered owner of your property only one of you, with the written consent of the majority of the other individuals, may vote. If you have questions about registering as a non-resident property elector, contact the City Clerk's Office at 250.638.4722.
Terrace Elector - Registration
The City of Terrace uses the Provincial Voters' List, therefore if you are registered on the Provincial List, you are registered on the City of Terrace Electors' List. In any event, you can register at the polls by meeting the Elector criteria mentioned above, and providing two pieces of identification proving residence, and identity, and in the case of non-resident property electors, proof of ownership.
Acceptable Pieces of Identification
The following are deemed to be acceptable identification for the purposes of registering to vote at the Polls (one must contain your signature):
- a British Columbia Driver's Licence;
- a British Columbia Identification Card issued by the Motor Vehicle Branch;
- an Owner's Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence issued by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia;
- a British Columbia CareCard or British Columbia Gold CareCard;
- a Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security Request for Continued Assistance Form;
- a Social Insurance Card issued by Human Resources Development Canada;
- a Citizenship Card issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada;
- a real property tax notice issued under section 237 of the Community Charter;
- a credit card or debit card issued by a savings institution as defined in section 29 of the Interpretation Act; or
- a utility bill issued for the supply of electricity, natural gas, water, telephone services or coaxial cable services.
Elector Disqualification
You are disqualified from voting if:
- You have not completed a sentence for an indictable offence, unless that person is released on probation or parole and is not in custody;
- You have been involuntarily confined to a psychiatric or other institution as a result of being acquitted of or found not criminally responsible for an offence under the Criminal Code on account of a mental disorder; and
- You have been found guilty of an Election-related offence.
Voting Opportunities: Where & When
To be determined in 2014.
Mail Ballot Voting
Mail ballot voting will be available for:
- Electors who have a physical disability, illness or injury that affects their ability to vote at another voting opportunity; or
- Electors who expect to be absent from the City of Terrace on General Voting Day and at the times of all advance voting opportunities.
If you are not already on the List of Electors, you will need to apply along with your application for a Mail Voting Ballot (either as a Resident Elector or Non-Resident Property Elector - if more than one person owns the property, the consent of the other property owner/s is required).
DOWNLOAD Mail Ballot Voting Procedures
DOWNLOAD Mail Ballot Application
DOWNLOAD Application to Register for General Local Election
DOWNLOAD Application to Register for General Local Election - Non-Resident
Please call Heather at 250.638.4722 if you would like more information on mail ballot voting or if you wish to confirm whether or not you are on the List of Electors.
More Questions? Who to Contact
If you have any questions regarding the upcoming Elections, please contact Heather Nunn, City Clerk, at 250.638.4722 or the Chief Election Officer.
Or check on the Provincial Government's website.
Regional District (250.615.6100) and School Board (250.635.4931). Elections are held at the same time as Local Government Elections. Please contact these agencies directly for information on their Elections.
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