Information for Voters:
Registration for voting will take place in conjunction with voting opportunities.
To be eligible to vote in the election, you must be:
18 years of age or older on the day of registration to vote, and
A Canadian citizen, and
Resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately preceding the day of registration, and
Current resident of Osoyoos (for resident electors), OR registered owner of real property in the Town of Osoyoos (for non-resident property electors) for at least 30 days immediately preceding the day of registration, and
Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or otherwise disqualified by law.
Non-resident property electors are encouraged to contact the municipal office in advance to ensure that all the necessary paperwork has been assembled before busy voting days.
Learn more on the Elections BC website or the Province of BC website.
Am I eligible to vote as a non-resident property elector?
If you own property in the Town of Osoyoos and live elsewhere in BC, you may be eligible to vote as non-resident property elector. To vote in Local Government Elections as a non-resident property elector, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- you are not entitled to register as a resident elector of the Town of Osoyoos
- you will be age 18 or older on general voting day
- you are a Canadian citizen
- you have been a resident of B.C. for at least 6 months immediately before general voting day
- you have been a registered owner of property in the Town of Osoyoos for at least 30 days immediately before general voting day
- you are not disqualified by law from voting
- the only persons who are registered owners of the property are individuals who are not holding the property in trust for a corporation or other trust
- you have not registered as a non-resident property elector in relation to any other parcel of property in the Town of Osoyoos
- if there is more than one registered owner on title, you have received the written consent of a majority of the other owners, authorizing you to be registered as the non-resident property elector.
How do non-resident property electors register?
You must register for each election at the time of voting by completing an application form. You will be asked to provide two pieces of identification that show your identity, and one must have your signature on it. You will also need to prove that you are entitled to register in relation to the property by providing a copy of the Property Tax Notice, Land Title Registration or BC Assessment Notice. Finally, if you own the property with other people, you will need to provide a signed consent form from the majority of the owners.
What are acceptable documents to prove that I own the property?
If you are applying for registration as a non-resident property elector, you must also show proof of ownership of property in the Town of Osoyoos. The following documents are examples of acceptable proof of property ownership:
- Property Tax Notice
- Land Title Registration
- BC Assessment Notice
What does "registered owner of property" mean?
This means whichever of the following is applicable:
- the owner of a registered estate in fee simple of the property, unless another person holds an interest in the property referred to in paragraphs (b), (c) or (d);
- the holder of the last registered agreement for sale, unless another person holds an interest in the property referred to in paragraph (c) or (d);
- the tenant for life under a registered life interest in the property, unless another person holds an interest in the property referred to in paragraph (d);
- the holder of a registered lease of the property for a term of at least 99 years.
What if the property is registered in my company’s name?
Corporations are not eligible to vote. You are not eligible to vote as a non-resident property elector if the property is registered in a company's name. You are also not eligible to vote if you are holding the property in trust for a corporation or another trust.
May I vote on more than one property?
You may only vote as a non-resident property elector in relation to one piece of property in any jurisdiction. Even if you own two pieces of property in the Town of Osoyoos, you may only vote once.
If I own property with other people, who may vote?
If there is more than one property owner on title, only one may register as the non-resident property elector.
- Where there is more than one owner on title, a consent form completed by the other owner(s) must be submitted at the time of registration.
- The person registering must have the written consent of that number of owners who, together with the person registering, constitute a majority.
Example: If two individuals own a single piece of property, the other owner, together with the person
registering, must consent. If five individuals own a single piece of property, at least two of the other property owners, together with the person registering, must consent.
What if I own property with someone else, and that person lives at the property?
The person living on the property may qualify as a resident elector because they reside in the Town of Osoyoos.
The Town of Osoyoos is offering mail ballots for the 2026 general local election for eligible electors who cannot attend the advance voting days of Wednesday, October 7, 2026 or Saturday, October 10, 2026, or general voting day of October 17, 2026 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm all voting days at the Sonora Community Centre in Osoyoos).
In accordance with the Town of Osoyoos Election Bylaw No. 1332, 2017, applications for Mail Ballots will be accepted starting on September 28, 2026. The application forms for resident and non-resident property electors will appear here on September 28, 2026.
For non-resident property electors who wish to vote by mail ballot, a couple of reminders:
- If you are a resident elector in the Town of Osoyoos, you are not eligible to vote as a non-resident property elector.
- If you own several properties in the Town of Osoyoos, you may only vote as a non-resident property elector for one of the properties.
- The property must be registered at Land Titles in your name (not a company name, numbered company, etc.).
- Proof of ownership of the property will be required to register to vote (link), along with copies of two pieces of identification (link) showing voter identity, at least one must contain the voter’s signature.
- If the property is owned by more than one individual, a consent form (link) signed by the majority of the property owners is required in order to register to vote.
It is strongly recommended that these materials be gathered in advance to facilitate the registration and voting process.