When and where to cast your ballot in Penticton

PENTICTON – Whether you're a first-time voter or just looking for a brief refresher on how and where you can vote in the Penticton civic election, here's a quick reminder on where you need to be to cast a ballot.

Today is your last chance to vote at an advance poll before general election day on Saturday.

First off, here's who is eligable to vote:

• Be 18 years of age or older when they register to vote, or 18 years or older on general voting day.
• Be a Canadian citizen.
• Have been a resident of B. C. for at least six months before they register to vote.
• Have either lived or owned property in the jurisdiction in which they intend to vote for at least 30 days before they register to vote.
• Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment, or by law from voting in a local election

If you aren't already registered, a resident elector is required to show two pieces of identification that proves who they are and where they live including the person's name and residential address. One must also include the person's signature (such as a driver's licence or BC Services Card). If neither piece of identification shows the elector's residential address, they may make a solemn declaration as to their place of residence.

Voting rights in B.C. are based on residency and property ownership. Corporations or businesses cannot vote in local elections.

Eligible electors who live on a First Nation reserve can vote, depending on where the reserve is located such as within a municipality or regional district jurisdiction.

When a person lives in one jurisdiction and owns property in one or more other jurisdictions, they may vote once where they own property as long as they meet the voter eligibility requirements. If one or more people own a property, only one person is eligible to vote as the non-resident property elector. The owner must be named in writing by the majority of the property owners.

A person cannot vote on behalf of a corporation or as a non-resident property elector based on a property owned wholly or in part by a corporation.

Students can vote only once — either in the jurisdiction where they attend school or in the jurisdiction where they usually live.

Where and when to vote

Advance voting takes place until 8 p.m. today, Oct. 18, at the Penticton Senior’s Drop-In Centre.

General voting day is Saturday, Oct. 20, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and you can vote at Penticton Trade and Convention Centre or at the Penticton Senior’s Drop-In Centre at 2965 South Main St.

For further information, see the City of Penticton website here.

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