Information for Voters

In the 2022 Municipal Election, Victoria voters will elect the following for a four-year term:

• 1 Mayor
• 8 Councillors
• 9 School Trustees (School District 61) 
• 3 CRD Directors

The Declaration of Candidates running for Mayor and Council in the City of Victoria's 2022 Local Government Election is available here [PDF - 135 KB]. 

Electors can vote for up to 3 candidates of the 18 who have expressed an interest to serve on the CRD Board [PDF - 207 KB]. 

The Declaration of School District 61 Candidates is available here [PDF - 1 MB].

Advance voting opportunities are open to ALL eligible electors. 

Click on the links below for each location's Voting Access and Parking Map. 

*Curbside voting is not available at the University of Victoria voting place due to on-street construction.

Note: An accessible voting machine will be available at the advance voting opportunities at Victoria City Hall.

For voters with accessibility needs, we have services available to help you vote.

• All advance voting places and general voting places are wheelchair accessible. Voters who can’t enter a voting place can vote at the curb or in the parking lot.
  
  
• An accessible voting machine will be available on:
• October 5, 11 & 12: Victoria City Hall
• October 15: Central Middle School
  
  
• Assistance is available to voters unable to mark a ballot because of a physical disability or difficulty with reading or writing. Voters needing assistance to mark their ballot may bring another person who will be required to sign a declaration, or ask an Election Official for assistance.  

Anyone eligible to vote can request a mail ballot in the City of Victoria’s 2022 Local Government Election. 

To receive a mail ballot, you need to complete and submit an application form. 

You can also request a mail ballot by calling 250.361.0571.

What You Need to Know 

Anyone eligible to vote may request a mail ballot by filling out an online request form. You can also request a mail ballot by calling 250.361.0571. 

Mail ballot packages will be available for pick up at City Hall. Mail ballot packages will no longer be mailed out. The deadline to mail them out was October 6, 2022.

After Thursday, October 6, do not put your mail ballot in the mail. You can drop off your mail ballot to: 

• the drop box located outside the Pandora Avenue entrance of Victoria City Hall 
• any of the 13 voting places on General Voting Day 
• any of the five advance voting opportunities 

Note:  You do not need to stand in line at a voting place to drop off a mail ballot. Go to the front of the line and ask to speak to an Election Ambassador to drop off your mail ballot.)

The City of Victoria must receive your mail ballot by 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 15 in order to be counted. 

The City of Victoria has mailed Voter Cards to all Victoria residents who are on the Voters List. Voter Cards arrived in the mail in late September.

Voters are encouraged to bring these cards with them to vote as this card speeds up the voting process.

The Voter Card does not replace the requirement to provide identification at a voting place.

NOTE: You do NOT need to have a Voter Card to vote. You can register to vote at ANY City of Victoria advance or general voting place by bring 2 pieces of acceptable ID. See information on what ID to bring to vote under “Identity Documents”.

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

Check to see if you are on the Voters List. 

If you qualify as a resident elector but are not on the Provincial Voters List, then you may register:

• when you vote at Advance Voting, or on General Voting Day at the voting place
• when you vote by mail ballot

Two pieces of ID are required to register to vote. Please see "Identity Documents" below to know what to bring.

If you are registered to vote by August 23, 2022, a Voter Card will be mailed to your household in late September or early October. When you vote, bring the Voter Card with your name listed and one piece of acceptable identification. Please see "Identity Documents" below for acceptable identification.

If you own property in Victoria but live elsewhere, you may be eligible to vote as a non-resident property elector. See “Non-Resident Property Elector” below for more information.

To vote in the City of Victoria's 2022 Local Government Election, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older on General Voting Day for the election
• Be a Canadian Citizen
• Be a resident of British Columbia for at least six months before the day of registration
• Be a resident of the City of Victoria, or
• Be a qualified property elector (non-resident property owner)
• Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment

New for 2022:

• New residents no longer need to reside in the City of Victoria for at least 30 days to register to vote.
• If you are 16 or 17 years old, you can pre-register by adding your name to the Future Voters List. 
• Elector organizations must register with Elections BC and there are some new rules for candidates. Learn more.

The following are valid identity documents for proving voter identity.

If you are a registered voter, at least one document to prove your identify must include your signature.

If you are registering to vote at a Voting Place, you will be required to present two pieces. Please be prepared to present two of the identity documents noted below (one must have your signature). 

• BC Driver’s Licence (Note: the dual BC Driver’s Licence and CareCard are considered one (1) piece of ID)
• BC Identification Card
• Photo BC Services Card (Note: the dual BC Driver’s Licence and CareCard are considered one (1) piece of ID)
• Certificate of Indian Status as issued by the Government of Canada
• Non-photo BC Services Card
• Student card issued by a post-secondary institution
• Owner’s Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence issued by ICBC
• BC CareCard or BC Gold CareCard
• Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security Request for Continued Assistance Form SDES8
• Social Insurance Card
• Confirmation of Social Insurance Number letter issued by the Government of Canada
• Canadian Citizenship Card
• City of Victoria Property Tax Notice
• Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits
• BC Government cheque
• Income Tax Assessment Notice
• Canadian Forces Identification
• Old Age Security Identification Card
• Canadian Passport
• Birth Certificate
• Credit card or debit card or statement
• Utility bill issued for the supply of electricity, natural gas, water, telephone services or coaxial cable services
• A completed and signed Solemn Declaration that is witnessed and signed by a Commissioner of Affidavits in Form 12-16

If you own property in Victoria but live elsewhere, you might be eligible to vote in the 2022 Local Government Election as a non-resident property elector. The owners must be individuals, not corporations.

Non-resident property electors must meet the following qualifications:

• age 18 or older on General Voting Day (October 15, 2022)
• a Canadian citizen
• a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before the day of registration
• a registered owner of real property in the City of Victoria for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration
• the only persons who are registered owners of the property, either as joint tenants or tenants in common, are individuals who are not holding the property in trust for a corporation or another trust
• not entitled to register as a resident elector
• not disqualified by any enactment from voting in an election or otherwise disqualified by law
• 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

Register as a Non-Resident Property Elector

If you are not on the City's Voters List and qualify as a non-resident property elector, you may register in advance until August 23 or at the time of voting. Registering as a non-resident property elector at the time on voting day requires documentation proving your identity, place of residence and proof of property ownership.

In order to register as a non-resident property elector, you must provide:

• Two pieces of personal identification - one with residential address, and one with your signature; and
• Property title deed or current City of Victoria property tax receipt; and
• An Application Form [PDF - 128 KB]
• A Consent Form [PDF - 72 KB], if the property is owned jointly with other individuals

If a property is owned in whole or in part by a corporation, you are ineligible to register as a non-resident property elector with regard to that property. There is no corporate vote in BC.

For further information about registering to vote as a non-resident property elector, please contact Legislative Services at 250.361.0571.

Accessible Curbside Voting Parking
Curbside voting parking is available for those with accessibility needs at all advance voting and general voting day places, except for the University of Victoria advance voting opportunity due to on-street construction.  

Parking at City Hall
Free one-hour parking is available at Centennial Square Parkade. 

Downtown Bike Valet Parking
Free, downtown bike valet parking is open 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. during advance voting opportunities at City Hall on October 5 and 11; and until 6:30 p.m on October 12. 

NOTE: City Hall is not a voting place on General Voting Day, however you can drop off your completed mail ballot at the drop box located at the Pandora Avenue entrance of City Hall by 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 15. Downtown bike valet parking will be open from and from 8 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. on General Voting Day on October 15. 

After being greeted at the voting location, you will be directed to the first available election official to show your Voter Card and one piece of acceptable identification, and asked to sign the voting book declaration to receive your ballot.

If you are not on the List of Registered Voters, or if you are updating your personal information on your Voter Card, you will need two pieces of identification. Please see "Identity Documents" above for acceptable identification.

Continue to the voting booth where you will have privacy to mark your ballot.

Finally, proceed to the voting machine where you will feed the ballot into the tabulator.