Elections and Referendums

When voting in the Crystal Pool Referendum, you will receive a double-sided ballot, with one ballot on each side. Below is the text that will appear on each ballot. 

Ballot 1: Loan Authorization (Crystal Pool Replacement) Bylaw 
Vote Yes or No 

Are you in favour of the City of Victoria adopting the Loan Authorization (Crystal Pool Replacement) Bylaw No. 24-054 to borrow up to $168,900,000, repayable over a term not exceeding 20 years, for the new Crystal Pool and Wellness Centre and to enter into agreements longer than five years for that purpose?  
Yes 
No

Vote Both Sides

Ballot 2: Crystal Pool Preferred Site Location 
Vote for one (1) 

What is your preference for the location of the new Crystal Pool and Wellness Centre?  
Central Park North 
Central Park South  

Vote Both Sides 

To vote in the Crystal Pool Referendum, you must: 

• be a resident of the City of Victoria or a qualified property elector (non-resident property owner)
• be a resident of British Columbia for at least six months before the day of registration (since August 8, 2024) 
• be a Canadian Citizen
• be 18 years of age or older
• not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment

If you are 16 or 17 years of age, you can pre-register for future elections/referendums by adding your name to the Future Voters List. 

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

Check to see if you are on the Provincial 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 an Advance Voting Opportunity 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 "ID to Bring to Vote" below. 

Victoria property owners that live elsewhere may be eligible to vote. See “Non-Resident Property Elector” below for more information.

If you’re on the Provincial Voters List, you will need to bring one piece of ID to vote, which must include your signature.

If you are not on the Provincial Voters List, you can register to vote at a voting place and will need to bring two pieces of ID to prove your identity and place of residence (one piece must include your signature).

The following are valid identity documents for proving voter identity.

• BC Driver’s Licence*  
• Photo BC Services Card*  
• Non-photo BC Services Card* 
• BC Identification Card 
• Certificate of Indian Status issued by the Government of Canada 
• 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  
• 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 

*The dual BC Driver’s Licence and Services Card are one (1) piece of ID. 
 

Three advance voting opportunities will be held at the Crystal Garden, 713 Douglas Street from 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. on:

• Wednesday, January 29
• Monday, February 3
• Wednesday, February 5

An accessible voting machine will be available and the location is wheelchair accessible. 

Image

Eligible voters can vote at ANY of the following locations on General Voting Day on 
Saturday, February 8 from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.:

1. Crystal Garden, 713 Douglas Street*
2. Central Middle School, 1280 Fort Street
3. George Jay Elementary School, 1118 Princess Avenue
4. Glenlyon Norfolk (Middle & Senior) School, 781 Richmond Avenue 
5. James Bay Community School, 140 Oswego Street 
6. Margaret Jenkins Elementary School, 1824 Fairfield Road
7. Oaklands Elementary School, 2827 Belmont Avenue 
8. Quadra Elementary School, 3031 Quadra Street
9. Sir James Douglas Elementary School, 401 Moss Street
10. Victoria West Elementary School, 750 Front Street

*An accessible voting machine will be available at Crystal Garden on February 8, 2025. 

Image

You may request a mail ballot by completing this online form, by calling 250.361.0571 or by coming to Victoria City Hall in person on weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 

You will be offered the choice of having your ballot mailed to you or picking it up from City Hall. Please ensure you have identification to prove identity when applying for and/or picking up your ballot. (Please allow two business days for your mail ballot request to be processed for pick-up.)

• You may request a mail ballot package by 4 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025.
• Completed mail ballots should be placed in the mail by February 1. 
• NOTE: After February 1, return mail ballots to the Drop Box at the Pandora Avenue entrance of City Hall or by 8 p.m. at an advance voting opportunity or one of the voting places on General Voting Day.
• Postage is included for mail ballot packages mailed within Canada. 

If you have requested a mail ballot but have not received one by General Voting Day, please vote at a voting location on Saturday, February 8.

NOTE: Your mail ballot must be received by the City of Victoria by 8 p.m. on Saturday, 
February 8, 2025 to be counted. 
 

For voters with accessibility needs, there are services available to help you vote.

• All voting locations are wheelchair accessible.
• Voters who are unable to enter a voting location can vote at the curb or in the parking lot. A sign will be posted with a phone number to call for assistance.
•  An accessible voting machine will be available at:
  • Advance Voting Opportunities at the Crystal Garden, 713 Douglas Street
  • General Voting Day at the Crystal Garden, 713 Douglas Street

The accessible voting machine enables people with sight loss and accessibility needs to vote. Voters have the option to listen to an audio recording of the two ballot questions and cast their votes by using a hand-held selector device, sip-and-puff straws or paddles.

• Assistance is available to voters unable to mark a ballot due to a physical disability or difficulty with reading or writing. Voters needing assistance to mark their ballot may either bring another person who will be required to sign a declaration, or may ask an Election Official for assistance.
  
   

Victoria property owners that live elsewhere may be eligible to vote in the Crystal Pool Referendum as a non-resident property elector. Non-resident property electors must meet the following qualifications:

• age 18 or older on February 8, 2025
• a Canadian citizen
• a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before the day of registration 
  (since August 8, 2024)
•  a registered owner of real property in the City of Victoria for at least 30 days before the day of registration 
  (since January 9, 2025)
• 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

How to Register as a Non-Resident Property Elector
If you are not on the Provincial Voters List and qualify as a non-resident property elector, you may register in advance or at the time of voting. Non-resident property elector registration requires additional documentation. These documents include:

• proof of identity
• proof of place of residence
• proof of property ownership

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

• two pieces of personal identification - one with your residential address and one with your signature, and
• property title deed or current City of Victoria property tax receipt and
• an Application Form
• a Consent Form, if the property is owned jointly with other individuals. 
• You are ineligible to register as a non-resident property elector with corporate-owned properties. There is no corporate vote in B.C.

For more information about voting as a non-resident property elector, call Legislative Services at 250.361.0571.

If your mail ballot is damaged, contact elections@victoria.ca or call 250.361.0571.