2022 General Local Elections

Nomination papers will be available for pick up in person at City Hall during regular business hours (8:30 am to 4:45 pm) beginning on August 2nd, 2022. Packages will also be available by email for any candidates who wish to view or print their own documents for completion by contacting Vicki Lucas, Deputy Chief Election Officer at election@kimberley.ca. 

The Nomination Period takes place between Tuesday, August 30th, 2022 at 9:00 am and Friday, September 9th, 2022 at 4:00 pm. During this period, nomination documents will be received by the Chief Election Officer or their designate. Candidates are asked to make an appointment for submission of nomination documents. Contact Vicki Lucas, Deputy Chief Election Officer at 250-427-9658 to book your appointment. 

Elections for the offices of Mayor, Councillor and School Trustee are for four year terms. 

• The Province of British Columbia has released the 2022 General Local Elections Education Materials. Materials include webpages, videos, guides and brochures.
• Watch Basics of Local Elections (video series).
• Watch Being an Effective Elected Official (video series).
• Watch Role of Elected Officials (video series).
• Potential candidates should familiarize themselves with campaign financing requirements. Information is available on the Elections BC Website.  

You are qualified to be nominated, elected and to hold office as a member of local government if you meet the following criteria; you must:

• Be a Canadian Citizen
• Be 18 years of age or older on election day
• Be a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before the day nomination papers are filed; and
• Have not been disqualified by the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election in BC or from being nominated for, being elected to, or holding office, or been otherwise disqualified by law.

You do not have to live in the jurisdiction in which you are running for office.

Please note that:

• If you currently work for the City of Kimberley or School District No. 6, you must take a leave of absence before being nominated.
• Federal Government employees must apply to the Public Service Commission for permission to run in the election.
• At least two qualified City of Kimberley electors (whose names must be on Election BC's list of electors) must nominate you in accordance with the Local Government Act. 

Learn more about eligibility and specifics of running for local office on the Government of British Columbia Website. 

Pre-campaign period (advertising rules apply): July 18th, 2022

Candidate Nomination Package Available: August 2nd, 2022

Nomination Period: Tuesday, August 30th at 9:00 am to September 9th, 2022 at 4:00 pm

Candidate Pre-election Information Session: Wednesday, August 24th at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers at City Hall

Advanced Voting Opportunities: 

• October 5th, 2022 at Centennial Hall
• October 12th, 2022 at Centennial Hall 

General Voting Day: October 15th, 2022 at McKim Middle School

New Council Orientation (only for candidates elected for Mayor and Councillor): October 24th, 2022 at 7:00 pm and October 31st, 2022 at 7:00 pm. 

Inaugural Council Meeting: November 7th, 2022 at 7:00 pm at the Kimberley Conference Centre (ceremony open to the public).

Resident Electors

To vote in the City of Kimberley election as a Resident Elector, you must:

• Be a Canadian Citizen;
• Be 18 years of age or older on the day of registration;
• Be a resident of the City of Kimberley on the day of registration;
• Have been a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration; and
• Not be disqualified from voting in an election.

Corporations, businesses and permanent residents of Canada (landed immigrants who have not yet become Canadian Citizens) are not permitted to vote.

Non-Resident Property Electors

Individuals are eligible to vote in the Kimberley General Local Election as a Non-Resident Property Elector. They must:

• Be a Canadian Citizen;
• Be 18 years of age or older on the day of registration;
• Have been a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration; 
• Not be disqualified from voting in an election;
• Be a registered owner of a real property in the City of Kimberley for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration;
• Be registered as a non-property elector only in relation to one parcel of real property in the City; and
• If applicable, have written consent from majority of registered owners. 

Non-Resident Property Electors will be asked to complete a Non-Resident Property Elector Registration Form. The form will be available at advance voting opportunities and on general voting day.

Only one registered owner can vote per parcel. Property owners residing in another country or province, other than British Columbia, are not eligible to vote. 

City List of Electors

The City of Kimberley uses the most current available provincial list of electors prepared by Elections BC. If you were listed on the Provincial Voters List, you should be on the City's List of Electors.

Registering in advance makes the voting process faster and easier. To register in advance online, please follow the link below.

Register to VOTE

If you are not on the City's List of Electors and did not register during the advance elector registration period, you can still register to vote on Advance Voting Days or General Voting Day. To register on voting day, you must show two pieces of identification which prove who you are and where you live (i.e. includes your name and residential address) and one of the pieces of identification must also include your signature (e.g. driver's license, BC Services Card). If neither piece of identification shows your residential address, you must make a solemn declaration as to your place of residence.

Non-resident property electors must produce two pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) to prove identity and that they are entitled to register in relation to property (e.g. property tax notice or certificate of title). If applicable, written consent from the majority of property owners must be provided. Only one owner may register as a non-resident property elector.

Acceptable Voter ID

• BC Care Card
• BC Identification Card Issued by ICBC
• BC Services Card
• BC Driver's License
• Birth Certificate
• Canadian Passport or Citizenship Card
• Certificate of Indian Status
• Credit or debit card with name
• Income Tax Assessment
• Metis Certificate Status
• Monthly Report/Request for Continued Income Assistance
• Nexus Border Card
• Owner's Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle License issued by ICBC
• Property Tax Notice issued by City of Kimberley
• Social Insurance Card
• Statutory Declaration/Sworn Affidavit (from a notary public, lawyer, or commissioner for taking affidavits). 
• Student Card
• Utility bill (electricity, natural gas, water, telephone, or cable bill). 

Advanced Voting Opportunities

Advance voting is available at Centennial Hall, 100 4th Avenue, at the dates and times listed below:

• Wednesday, October 5th, 2022 between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm
• Wednesday, October 12th, 2022 between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm

General Voting Day

On October 15th, 2022, voting will take place at McKim Middle School, 689 Rotary Drive, between the voting hours of 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Health and Safety Protocols

The City of Kimberley will administer the election in accordance with the public health orders and its Communicable Disease Prevention Plan.

Electors are encouraged to:

• Monitor their health and stay home if sick (mail ballot voting is available to all eligible electors);
• Practice good hygiene (i.e. sanitize hands and cover coughs and sneezes) at a voting location; and
• Respect others' comfort level (i.e. physical distancing at a voting location.

Mail Ballot Voting

For the first time in local elections, all eligible electors are able to apply to vote by mail ballot. See the Mail Ballot Voting Section on this page for details. 

In the 2022 election, eligible voters can request to vote by mail. This represents a huge expansion in access to voting for City of Kimberley residents, as well as City of Kimberley property owners who meet the qualifications for a Non-Resident Property Elector (NRPE).

2022 KEY DATES FOR MAIL BALLOTS

Ballots received after 8 pm on October 15, 2022 will not be counted.

To increase transparency, a list of voters whose mail ballot kit requests have been approved will be available for viewing by candidates and their official agents. The list will be updated at noon daily with new requests.

REQUESTING A MAIL BALLOT PACKAGE:

Before 1 pm on October 12, 2022 you must submit a completed APPLICATION FOR MAIL BALLOT to the Chief Election Officer or Deputy Chief Election Officer by mail, in person (340 Spokane Street, Kimberley, BC, V1A 2E8) by fax ((250) 427-5252), or by email to (election@kimberley.ca).

The APPLICATION FOR MAIL BALLOT is available on the City of Kimberley website – Link to form and requires you to provide the following information:

(1)          Full Name,

(2)          Residential address,

(3)          Address of the property in relation to which you are voting (for non-resident property electors),

(4)          Method of delivery of your mail ballot package;

• pick up at office and, if you wish, name of person you authorize to pick up package for you, OR
• regular letter mail through Canada Post to residential address, OR
• regular letter mail through Canada Post to an alternate address that you provide when requesting the ballot package, and

(5)          If you are not on the list of electors, to ensure you receive the correct registration application form in your package, you must indicate whether you are going to be registering as a resident or non-resident property elector.

WHAT KIND OF IDENTIFICATION DO I NEED TO RECEIVE A MAIL BALLOT PACKAGE ?

One piece of identification is required to receive a mail ballot package. You can submit that in the following ways:

• Email scans or photos of your ID to election@kimberley.ca; these emails will be fully erased within 24 business hours of identity confirmation; or
• Fax your ID to (250) 427-5252; faxed items will be securely shredded within 24 business hours of identify confirmation; or
• Make an appointment with the Deputy Chief Election Officer to verify your ID in person by emailing election@kimberley.ca or calling (250) 427-9658. If this option is used, the mail ballot package will be issued at the same time. 15 minutes should be allocated for the appointment.

WHEN WILL I GET MY MAIL BALLOT PACKAGE ?

The City will send out mail ballot packages commencing on or about September 30, 2022. 

HOW DO I COMPLETE MY MAIL BALLOT PACKAGE ?

Full instructions will be included in your mail ballot package.

WHEN WILL MAIL BALLOTS BE COUNTED ?

To be counted, your mail ballot must be received by the Chief Election Officer no later than 8 pm on Saturday, October 15, 2022.

Mail ballots will be run through the tabulators shortly after the close of voting on October 15, 2022 with the Special polls ballots.

Ballots received after 8 pm on October 15, 2022 will not be counted.

MY BALLOT IS DAMAGED, OR I VOTED FOR TOO MANY PEOPLE, WHAT CAN I DO

If your ballot is spoiled or damaged, you can make an appointment with the election office by calling (250) 427-9658 or email election@kimberley.ca.

When it is time for your appointment, bring your complete original mail ballot package and identification. You will receive a new ballot once the damaged one is returned.

Information available soon.