Thinking of Running for Council?

 Serving your community can be a rewarding experience. There are many good reasons to run for office – you might run to be actively involved in the local decision-making process, contribute your experience and knowledge to the community, address issues or lead change in your community. Here are some of the ways you can prepare: 

• Attend Council meetings to learn about priority issues/projects and observe what being on council might be like;
• Look at the Grand Forks financial plan, strategic plan, master plans and annual reports;
• Get to know key groups in the community to understand the diversity of interests in our area;
• Research the internet for information about local governments and basic facts

Who is eligible to run for office?

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

1. be 18 years of age or older on general voting day (October 17, 2026);
2. be a Canadian citizen;
3. have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately prior to filing nomination documents (prior to March 10, 2026);
4. not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment from being nominated for, being elected to or holding office, or be otherwise disqualified by law.

Generally, local elections candidates must be nominated by eligible electors and declared a candidate by the local Chief Elections Officer.

 Financial Disclosures

 In addition to the above, Candidates are required to file financial disclosure statements, when they complete and submit their nomination packages. While in office, financial disclosures are filed annually and upon leaving elected office.

Potential candidates should familiarize themselves with campaign financial requirements, information is available on the Elections BC website.

Elections BC helps local elections candidates and their financial agents understand the rules under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act. Among other requirements, local elections candidates must:

1. Open a separate campaign account and use it for all financial transactions. If you have difficulty opening a campaign account at a savings institution, a letter can be provided to take to the institution that explains the legislated requirement.
2. File a disclosure statement with Elections BC within 90 days after General Voting Day

When will nomination packages be available?

Candidate Nomination Packages will be available both in-person at City Hall or via email from August 4, 2026. Please come to City Hall to collect the package or email [email protected] and request a nomination package via email.

When can I file my nomination documents?

Nominations will be accepted by the Chief or Deputy Chief Elections Officer beginning at 9:00 a.m., on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, and ending at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026. Potential candidates are reminded that in order to run as a candidate, you must be nominated by two (2) people who are qualified to vote either as resident or non-resident property electors in the City of Grand Forks.

Questions?

Further information related to the 2026 Grand Forks Elections may be obtained by contacting:

Tracey Butler, Chief Elections Officer – (250) 365-9473 or [email protected]

Kevin McKinnon, Deputy Chief Elections Office – (250) 442-6111 or [email protected]

 

Additional Resources for Candidates:  

Province of British Columbia – General Local Elections

Elections BC – Candidate Information

Elections BC provides many resources for candidates, including information on campaign financing and contributions, roles of Election Officials, advertising rules and forms and guides regarding local elections.

Legislation

The requirements for local government candidates are guided by several pieces of provincial legislation:

• Local Elections Campaign Financing Act (LECFA)
• Local Government Act
• Community Charter

You can vote in the City of Grand Forks election for Mayor and Councillors, and School District No. 51 Trustee if you are a resident of Grand Forks (“resident elector”), or own property in Grand Forks even if you don’t reside in Grand Forks (“non-resident property elector”).

Provincial legislation gives eligible B.C. residents the right to vote in general local elections and by-elections. This right is subject to certain restrictions, limitations, and requirements. Additionally, local governments are required to provide access to voting, through various opportunities, such as advance voting day.

Voter Eligibility

To be eligible to vote in general local elections or by-elections as a resident property elector, a person must:

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

Voting rights are granted to citizens based on residency or property ownership, There is no corporate or business vote in local elections.

Non-Resident Property Electors

When a person lives in one jurisdiction and owns property in one or more jurisdictions, they may vote once in each of the other jurisdictions where they own property, as long as they meet the voter eligibility requirements.

If a person owns a property with one or more other individuals, only one person is eligible to vote as the non-resident property elector for that property. The owner entitled to vote must be designated, in writing, by the majority of the property owners.

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

Students

Students who live in one jurisdiction and attend an educational institution in a jurisdiction different  from their usual place of residence may vote only once, either in the jurisdiction where they attend school or in the jurisdiction that is their usual place of residence.

What are the qualifications to vote?

To register as a “RESIDENT ELECTOR” you must be:

• 18 years old or older; and
• a Canadian citizen; and
• a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months before you register to vote: and
• a resident of City of Grand Forks, or trustee electoral area on the day of registration; and
• must not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment from voting in an election or be otherwise disqualified by law.

 What identification is required to vote?

In accordance with Provincial legislation, if a person is already registered on the voters list, there is no ID requirement at the time of voting, although a solemn verbal declaration will have to be made by the elector prior to receiving a ballot, to ensure that they are the person named on the voters list. Although it is not required to vote, staff may ask if you have ID in an effort to help speed up the process during the ballot assignment. If a person is not already registered on the voters list, and they are eligible to vote, the following ID requirement must be met when registering at the time of voting:

• At least two ID document must be shown that provide evidence of the person’s identity and place of residence, at least one of which must contain the person’s signature.

OR

• At least two ID documents must be shown that provide evidence of the person’s identity, at least one of which must contain the person’s signature, and make a solemn declaration as to the person’s place of residence.

Acceptable forms of identification include:

• BC Driver’s License
• BC ID Card
• BC Care Card or BC Gold Care Card
• BC Services Card with or without photo
• Social Insurance Number Card
• Certification of Vehicle Insurance (ICBC)
• Canadian Citizenship Card
• Credit Card or Debit Card
• Property Tax Notice
• Utility Bill

What is a RESIDENT Elector?

• A person is a resident of the municipality or Electoral Area where the person lives. To answer the question, “Where do I live?” refer first to the address given on the driver’s license and on Income Tax statements. It is also the place where one would register minor children for school.
• A person may not be a resident of more than one municipality at a time.
• A person does not cease to be a resident by leaving for temporary purposes (i.e. vacation, school).
• A resident does not have to own property. A resident may be a renter.

What is a NON-RESIDENT elector?

A person is a non-resident property elector if they do not live in the municipality or Electoral Area but instead own property in the municipality or Electoral Area.

To register as a “NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY ELECTOR” you must be:

• age 18 or older when you register to vote or will be 18 years of age or older on general voting day; and
• a Canadian citizen; and
• a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months before you register to vote; and
• a registered owner of real property in the City of Grand Forks before you register to vote; and
• not entitled to register as a resident elector; and
• must not be disqualified by law (currently incarcerated or having been convicted of election offenses).

What if I own property with other people?

Only one of the owners may vote on behalf of the property as a non-resident elector. If the property is owned by more than one person, the majority of owners have to decide which of them will be voting on behalf of the property and complete a Consent form.

Why do non-resident property electors need to provide a copy of their land title?

The land title proves both ownership and identifies how many people are on title. If there is more than one person on title, a written consent is required to designate one of the owners as the voter.

Can Landed Immigrants vote?

No, you must be a Canadian Citizen to vote.

Can people living on First nation / Indian Lands vote?

Yes, if the requirements of a resident or non-resident elector are met.

Is voting by Proxy permitted?

No.

If a person owns more than one property, can they vote once for each property?

No. No person may vote more than one time in any election.

Is there a corporate vote (i.e. can someone vote in the name of the business they own or for property owned by a corporation?

No. Only people can vote. There is no corporate vote in British Columbia.  A corporation is not entitled to vote or have a representative registered as an elector.

 Where do I vote?

On General Voting Day, Saturday, October 17, 2026, City of Grand Forks electors will vote at the Dr. D. A. Perley Elementary School Gym located at 1200 Central Avenue, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Are there any other opportunities to vote?

Yes – the Advance Voting Opportunities will be held on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Grand Forks Seniors’ Society located at 565 71^st. Avenue, Grand Forks, BC, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

All eligible electors can vote at an Advance Voting Opportunity.

The City of Grand Forks also offers “Curbside Voting” during both Advance Voting and General Voting to make voting places as accessible as reasonably possible. If you can travel to a voting place but due to a disability or impaired mobility you find it difficult to get into the building or room where voting is taking place a request can be made to the Chief Election Officer or Deputy Chief Election Officer for a mobile voting station to be brought outside the place of voting.

In addition, on General Voting Day, Saturday, October 17, 2026, Special Voting Opportunities will be held at Phoenix Manor Retirement Home, Boundary Lodge Assisted Living, Boundary Hospital & Hardyview Lodge, and Silver Kettle Village.

 Do I have to own property in Grand Forks in order to vote?

No, all residents of Grand Forks who meet the qualifications to register as a resident elector, as noted above, are entitled to vote, regardless of whether or not they own property.

If I own property in Grand Forks, but live elsewhere, am I entitled to vote?

People who own property in Grand Forks, but don’t live in the city, can register as a Non- Resident Property Elector, provided they meet the qualifications to register as a “Non-Resident Property Elector” as noted above.  However, only one non-resident property elector may vote per property.  If there is more than one registered owner of the property, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majority of the owners, register as a non-resident property elector. (To obtain a Consent Form please contact the Chief Election Officer at 250-365-7227)

Who can run for office in a General Local Government Election?

A person is qualified to be nominated, elected, and to hold office as a member of local government if they meet the following criteria:

• 18 years of age or older on general voting day;
• Canadian citizen;
• resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day nomination papers are filed;
• not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from being nominated for, being elected to or holding the office, or be otherwise disqualified by law.

Where and when can I pick up nomination papers?

Nomination packages are available from the Deputy Chief Election Officer at Grand Forks City Hall, 7217 4^th Street, starting Tuesday, August 4, 2026, during regular office hours of 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except statutory holidays.

Where and when can nomination papers be filed?

Nomination papers can be filed with the Chief Election Officer or Deputy Chief Elections Officer between 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 and 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026, (excluding Statutory Holidays and weekends), at Grand Forks City Hall, 7217 4^th Street.

How can I find out if I’m on the List of Registered Electors?

Beginning September 1, 2026 a List of Registered Electors will be available, upon signature, to view at Grand Forks City Hall, 7217 4^th Street, during regular office hours from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except statutory holidays, or you can call City Hall at (250) 442-8266 to inquire.

If I’m not on the List of Registered Electors does that mean I can’t vote?

No, if you are not on the List of Registered Electors, but you meet all of the qualifications noted above to register as a resident elector, or a non-resident property elector, you may register and vote at the Advance Voting Opportunity or on General Voting Day.  Please note that two pieces of identification will be required (at least one with a signature), to prove both residency and identity.

What are the penalties for not following election laws?

• Anyone who commits an election offence, such as voting more than once or signing a false statement, is liable to a fine of up to $5,000 and up to one year in prison.
• Anyone convicted of a more serious election offence, such as vote buying or intimidation could be subject to a fine of up to $10,000 and two years in prison.
• They may also be prohibited from holding office and voting in local government elections for up to six years.

Who enforces general local election rules?

• The police are responsible for investigating alleged election offences, and the Courts are responsible for adjudicating allegations, making decision and imposing penalties.
• The Chief Election Officer has limited authority to enforce election rules, such as the authority to challenge the nomination of a candidate or the eligibility of an elector in the Courts, and to maintain order at voting places. The Chief Election Officer does not investigate alleged election offences or administer penalties.

Can I have a translator help me vote?

Yes, the person translating for you must sign a solemn declaration before providing assistance. Speak to the Election Official at the voting place for further information.

Can I take someone into the voting booth with me?

• Yes, if you need assistance, an election official may assist you to vote. If you are caring for someone (e.g. A child or elderly relative) at the time you cast your ballot, the Presiding Election Official may allow you to have that person in the booth with you.
• Anyone providing assistance to another elector is required to sign a solemn declaration before providing any assistance. Speak to the Presiding Election Official at the voting place for further information.

Am I allowed to assist someone to vote who has a physical disability or other difficulty?

Yes, you must sign a written statement and sign a solemn declaration in order to assist someone to vote. Speak to the Presiding Election Official at the voting place for further information.

What can I do if I believe someone has committed an election offence?

If you believe someone has committed an election offence, contact your local police. The police are responsible for conducting an investigation and recommending to Crown Counsel whether charges should be laid. Election offences are prosecuted through the judicial system. The Chief Elections Officer does not investigate alleged election offences.