Elections and Other Voting Opportunities

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General Local Election

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Local government elections in British Columbia are held every four (4) years. This includes elections for mayors, councillors, regional district electoral area directors and commissioners.

The next General Local Government Election will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

Important Details

Voter Eligibility

Resources & Guides

Assent Voting

No voting opportunities at this time

Alternative Approval Process

No voting opportunities at this time

2023 Area C By-Election

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Archived: Assent Votes

Global Geopark Grant in Aid Service

The Regional Board adopted the Global Geopark Grant in Aid Service Establishment Bylaw No. 2477, 2022 on November 10, 2022 as follows: 2278 votes in favour, 1752 votes against. The bylaw provides authority for the provision of grants in aid to not for profit societies or local governments that are developing and improving, operating and maintaining a UNESCO designated Global Geopark in the Peace River Regional District. 

References


Dinosaur Museum Grant in Aid Service

The Regional Board adopted the Dinosaur Museum Grant in Aid Service Establishment Bylaw No. 2476, 2022 on November 10, 2022 as follows: 2776 votes in favour, 1752 votes against. The bylaw provides authority for the provision of grants in aid to not for profit societies or local governments that are developing and improving, operating and maintaining a Dinosaur Museum in the Peace River Regional District. 

References


Regional Connectivity Service 

The Regional Board adopted the Regional Connectivity Service Establishment Bylaw No. 2487, 2022 on November 10, 2022 as follows: 3088 votes in favour, 1389 votes against. The bylaw establishes a service to be known as “Regional Connectivity Service” that authorizes the Regional District to:

a) Enter into partnering agreements with internet or cellular service providers to apply for grant funding from other levels of government or grant programs for Broadband Infrastructure;
b) Enter into partnering agreements to allow the PRRD to provide capital grants for Broadband Infrastructure projects, and;
c) Provide Peace River Regional District resources required to manage and advance Broadband Initiatives.

References


Sport and Cultural Events Grant in Aid

The Regional Board adopted the Sport and Cultural Events Grant in Aid Service Establishment Bylaw No. 2473, 2022 on November 10, 2022 as follows: 3210 votes in favour, 1284 votes against. The bylaw establishes a service to be known as “Sport and Cultural Events Grant in Aid” to provide funding to local governments or non-profit entities to host national or international level events, competitions or festivals that are sanctioned by the relevant governing oversight body, held within the boundaries of the Peace River Regional District.

References


Electoral Area B FSJ Public Library Financial Contribution Service

The Regional Board adopted the Electoral Area B Fort St. John Public Library Financial Contribution Service Establishment Bylaw No. 2484, 2022 on November 10, 2022 as follows: 180 votes in favour, 177 votes against. The bylaw establishes a service to be known as “Fort St. John Public Library Financial Contribution” to provide funding to assist with provision of library services. The bylaw is established to provide authority for the provision of financial contributions to not for profit organizations or local governments that are developing, improving and operating the Fort St. John Public Library in the Peace River Regional District. 

References


Health Related Services Grant-In-Aid

The Regional Board adopted the Health Related Services Grant in Aid Service Establishment Bylaw No. 2445, 2021 on July 22, 2021. The bylaw will allow the PRRD to enhance health-related services in the region in the form of grants to not-for-profit societies who offer health related services, and scholarships to students seeking post-secondary education in a health care or medical field.

References


Seniors Aging in Place Support Services

The Regional Board adopted the Seniors Aging In Place Support Services Establishment Bylaw No. 2444, 2021 on July 22, 2021. The bylaw will help seniors stay in their homes for as long as possible by providing services including healthy meals, housekeeping, and yard maintenance.

References

Archived: Alternative Process Votes

Gotta Go Roadside Facilities

The Regional Board adopted the Gotta Go Roadside Facilities Service Establishment Bylaw No. 2440, 2021 on August 12, 2021. The Gotta Go project will provide restroom facilities along a portion of the Alaska Highway.

References

Candidates

A candidate is an individual seeking election as a mayor, councillor, electoral area director, Islands Trust local trustee, local community commissioner or specified parks board commissioner within a municipality, regional district electoral area, Trust area, community commission area or specified parks board jurisdiction.

A candidate must have been nominated by eligible electors and have been declared a candidate by the Chief Election Officer in order to run for elected office. Prospective candidates for local office must be nominated by at least two eligible electors from the jurisdiction where the person is seeking election.

 

Candidate Resources

(Click title to expand)

2023 By-Election Results +

Candidate Votes
Brad Sperling 264
Suzanne Haab 254

2022 Local Government Election Results +

Area B:

Candidate Votes
Jeff Kitt 156
Jordan Kealy 243

Area C: ELECTION INVALIDATED

Candidate Votes
Suzanne Haab 234
Brad Sperling 231

Area D: Leonard Hiebert, ACCLAIMED

Area E: Dan Rose, ACCLAIMED

Who May Run for Office +

A candidate for mayor, councillor or electoral area director must:

  • be 18 years of age or older on general voting day;
  • be a Canadian citizen;
  • have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before filing nomination documents; and,
  • not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election in British Columbia or from being nominated for, being elected to or the holding office, or be otherwise disqualified by law.

Who May Not Run for Office +

A person is not eligible to run as a candidate for any local government office if they:

  • have been convicted of an indictable offence and are disqualified from the date of the conviction until the date on which they are sentenced;
  • have been convicted of and sentenced for an indictable offence and are in custody;
  • have been found guilty of an election offence, such as intimidation or votebuying or other election offence, and are prohibited from holding office;
  • are judges of the Provincial Court, Supreme Court or Court of Appeal;
  • are involuntarily confined to a psychiatric facility or other institution;
  • have been disqualified for specified reasons such as, failing to:
    – file a campaign financing disclosure statement in a previous election;
    – make an oath of office; or,
    – attend local government meetings in the manner and frequency required by the Community Charter; or,
  • have been disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election in British Columbia or from being nominated for, elected to or holding office under the Local Government Act or be otherwise disqualified by law.

Nomination Period +

The following nomination period is the only time during which the Chief Election Officer is permitted to accept nomination documents from nominees for office.

The Chief Election Officer officially declares the nominees who have met the candidacy requirements and have become candidates for the local government election after the end of the nomination period.

Who May Nominate +

Prospective candidates for local office must be nominated by at least two eligible electors from the local government where the person is seeking election, and eligible to vote in the jurisdiction as a resident elector or as a non-resident property elector.

To nominate a candidate for local office, the nominator must:

  • be 18 years of age or older when they register to vote or will be 18 years of age or older on general voting day;
  • be a Canadian citizen;
  • have been a resident of B.C. for at least six months before registering to vote;
  • be a resident in the municipality or electoral area for which the nomination is being made, or in the case of a non-property resident property elector, own real property in the municipality or electoral area;
  • not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or be otherwise disqualified by law.

Endorsement by an Elector Organization optional +

A registered elector organization can endorse a candidate on the ballot by submitting all the required information in the endorsement documents to the Chief Election Officer and Elections BC during the nomination period.

Only elector organizations registered with Elections BC can file endorsement documents, receive campaign contributions and incur election expenses. The elector organization must have a membership of at least 50 eligible electors (either resident electors or non-resident property electors) at the time it submits registration information to Elections BC.

An elector organization cannot endorse more candidates in an election than there are offices to be filled, and a candidate can only be endorsed by one elector organization. Candidates endorsed by elector organizations must indicate their consent to the endorsement by providing their signature as part of the endorsement documents submitted to the Chief Election Officer and Elections BC by the elector organization.

Nomination Packages +

Nomination packages are available for download, for pick up from the PRRD offices during regular business hours or can be sent via mail upon request – and remain available until the nomination period ends on 4pm on January 20, 2023.

Nomination documents must be submitted to the Chief Election Officer, in person, by mail, fax or email. The Chief Election Officer must receive original copies of any documents submitted by fax or email by January 20 at 4pm. The nomination is not valid if the original nomination documents are not received by the deadline and the candidate will be deemed to have withdrawn.

Any changes to the nomination document information that take place after the election results have been declared must be sent directly to Elections BC.

Election Campaigns +

An election campaign is a connected series of actions (e.g., advertising, canvassing, meetings and speeches) for the purpose of electing a candidate or a group of candidates to a municipal council or regional district board.

Candidates generally direct their own election campaigns during local elections, but can retain an election campaign manager and campaign volunteers to prepare and distribute flyers, call eligible voters, handle logistics and take on other election campaign-related activities. Candidates have considerable flexibility in
organizing their election campaigns, provided they avoid committing election and/or campaign financing offences.

Third Party Advertising & Financing Rules +

A third party sponsor is an individual or organization that conducts election advertising independently from a candidate or elector organization campaign. Third party sponsors must be independent from candidates and/or elector organizations and must not coordinate, or sponsor advertising together with, or on behalf of a candidate and/or elector organization.

Third party sponsors are required to register with Elections BC before undertaking election advertising during the pre-campaign and campaign periods.

Campaign Financing Rules

Refer to Elections BC’s Guide for Local Elections Third Party Sponsors in B.C. for more information about the campaign financing rules, offences and penalties that apply to third party sponsors.

Or contact Elections BC:
Local: 250 387-5305
Toll-free: 800 661-8683
Email: electoral.finance@elections.bc.ca

Election Officials

Election Officials are recruited on an as needed basis to work in various communities throughout the region to assist with referenda, by-elections, general elections and other voting opportunities. Election officials are compensated by way of an hourly wage and/or mileage rate.

The PRRD holds a mandatory training session for election officials and provides the election officials with reference material and all necessary supplies. Ongoing support from the Chief and Deputy Chief Election Officers is available during voting days.

Requirements

  • Prepared to attend a training session, travel to rural locations throughout the region and be able to work for an extended period of time on general voting day.
  • Required to make a solemn declaration that they will faithfully and impartially fulfill their duties. Election Officials having personal connections to a candidate are to advise the Chief Election Officer.
  • Complete and submit application form to the contact below

Contact

Submit applications forms and get more information about working as election official, by contacting Tyra Henderson at 250-784-3200 or via email.

Municipal Information

In addition to the four rural Electoral Area’s (B, C, D & E), the General Local Election involves seven member municipalities throughout the regional district. Each municipality has specific positions that eligible voters can vote on.

To review municipal-specific election information, visit the below pages:

District of Chetwynd

City of Dawson Creek

City of Fort St. John

District of Hudson’s Hope

Village of Pouce Coupe

District of Taylor

District of Tumbler Ridge

Electoral Map & Voting Stations

There are no active voting opportunities at this time.

The below map is for general reference only.

 

Mail Ballot Voting

There are no active voting opportunities at this time. 

This page will be updated with mail ballot voting with the next voting opportunity.

 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE

You are allowed to vote if you are:

  • A resident elector (i.e., you live in Regional District Electoral Area C), OR
  • A non-resident property elector (i.e., you live elsewhere in BC but own property in Regional District Electoral Area C).

 

ELECTOR QUALIFICATIONS

Resident Electors:

  • 18 years of age or older on general voting day for the by-election February 25, 2023; and
  • a Canadian citizen; and
  • a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration; and
  • a resident in Regional District Electoral Area C; and
  • not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or otherwise disqualified by law.

 

Non-Resident Property Electors:

  • 18 years of age or older on general voting day for the by-election February 25, 2023; and
  • a Canadian citizen; and
  • a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration; and
  • a registered owner of real property in a personal name (not corporately held) in Regional District Electoral Area C, for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration; and
  • not entitled to register as a resident elector; and
  • not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or otherwise disqualified by law; and

**If there is more than one registered owner of the property, one of those individuals may, with written consent of the majority of the owners, register as a non-resident property elector. **

 

HOW DO YOU REGISTER TO VOTE?

There is no need to pre-register to vote as the registration of all electors will take place at the time of voting.  Mail Ballot Packages will include instructions on how to register to vote at the same time as you fill out your ballot.