Information for Voters

Who can vote?
What identification should I bring?
Can I vote in View Royal if I live elsewhere but own property in View Royal?
Can I vote by mail ballot?
Do I qualify as a non-resident property elector?
Am I voting for trustees in School District 61 or School District 62?
Voter Accessibility
Short-term rentals and the 2026 General Local Election

Who can vote?

You can vote in the Town of View Royal election if you live in the Town of View Royal (Resident Elector) or if you own property in View Royal but live elsewhere in B.C. (Non-Resident Property Elector).

Requirements for Resident Electors:

  • must be 18 years of age or older on general voting day (i.e. born on or before October 17, 2008);
  • must be a Canadian citizen;
  • must be a resident of B.C. for at least 6 months immediately before the day you register to vote;
  • must be a resident of View Royal; 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.

Requirements for Non-Resident Property Electors:

  • must be 18 years of age or older on general voting day (i.e. born on or before October 17, 2008);
  • must be a Canadian citizen;
  • must be a resident of B.C. for at least 6 months immediately before the day you register to vote;
  • must be a registered owner of real property in the Town of View Royal for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration;
  • must not be entitled to register as a resident elector;
  • must not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or be otherwise disqualified by law;
  • 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; and
  • 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.

What are the identification requirements to register to vote?

Voter registration will take place at the time of voting. You will be required to make a declaration that you meet the voter requirements (listed above) as well as produce proper identification as follows:

  • For resident electors: Two (2) pieces of identification (at least one with a signature). Picture identification is not necessary. The identification must prove both residency and identity.

  • For non-resident property electors: Two (2) pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) to prove identity, must declare that they are entitled to register in relation to the property, and, if applicable, provide written consent from a majority of the other property owners on title appointing the registrant to be the sole voter.

What identification should I bring?

The following are examples of acceptable identification documents:

*B.C. Drivers Licence *Old Age Security Identification Card
*B.C. Identification Card (BCID) *Canadian Forces Identification
*B.C. Services Card *Property Tax Notice from the Town of View Royal
*Birth Certificate *Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits
*Certificate of Indian Status as Issued by the Government of Canada *B.C. Government Cheque
*Canadian Passport *Income Tax Assessment Notice
*Social Insurance Card *Canada Child Tax Benefit Statement
*Canadian Citizenship Card *Bank/credit card statement issued by a Canadian bank or credit union
*Utility Bill *Student card issued by the University of Victoria, Camosun College or Royal Roads University
*Library Card issued by the Greater Victoria Public Library  

Can I vote in View Royal if I live elsewhere but own property in View Royal?

Yes. People who are not residents of the Town of View Royal may vote if they own property in the Town of View Royal and qualify as a non-resident property elector.

Requirements for Non-Resident Property Electors

Can I vote by mail ballot?

Registered electors (resident and non-resident) may request a mail ballot by filling out an application to vote by mail. Completed applications can be submitted to View Royal Town Hall by mail, email or in person. 

Applications to vote by mail ballot will be available closer to general voting day.

Do I qualify as a non-resident property elector?

To vote as a non-resident property elector, you must meet all of these requirements:

  • You are not entitled to register as a resident elector in the Town of View Royal;
  • You are a Canadian citizen;
  • You have been a resident in B.C. for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration;
  • You are 18 years or older on general voting day, October 17, 2026 (born on or before October 17, 2008);
  • You are not disqualified by any enactment from voting in an election or are otherwise disqualified by law;
  • You have been a registered owner of property in the Town of View Royal for at least 30 days immediately preceding the day of registration;
  • 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; and
  • You have received the written consent of the majority of registered owners for the property, authorizing you to be registered as the non-resident property elector for this property (if applicable).

A non-resident property elector may also register at the time of voting. All of the above qualifications and identification requirements must be met. Proof of ownership may be established by presenting a 2026 Land Title Certificate or a 2026 Assessment of Property Tax Notice.

Am I voting for trustees in School District 61 or School District 62?

The majority of View Royal residents will vote for one Area 3 (Highlands/View Royal) trustee in School District 61.

The School District No. 62 catchment includes a small number of properties in the McKenzie Lake area west of Pike Lake. These properties are located on Bate, Barker, Herbate, Thanet, and Westoby Roads. If you require information about specific addresses, please contact School District No. 62.

Voter Accessibility

While all voting locations were selected with accessibility in mind, each location offers curbside voting which allows eligible voters to vote at their vehicle with no need to enter the voting place. Upon arrival at your chosen voting place, please look for the marked "Curbside Voting" parking spaces and park there. An Election Official will attend to you. 

If you require assistance to mark your ballot, a trusted person may accompany you in the voting place and can be authorized to assist you after completing a form that will be available in the voting place. 

Short-Term Rentals and the 2026 General Local Election

At the September 1, 2026, Council meeting, View Royal Council directed staff to add a non-binding plebiscite question to the ballot for the 2026 General Local Election.

Voters will be asked to answer the following “yes” or “no” question:

The Town of View Royal Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2014, currently permits registered bed and breakfasts but does not permit other forms of short-term rentals. Bed and breakfasts must be operated by the resident who resides in the detached dwelling and are limited to two sleeping units and a maximum stay of sixty (60) days per calendar year. Under Provincial legislation, short-term rentals are accommodations provided to the public for payment for periods of less than ninety (90) consecutive days.

The Town is seeking the electors feedback on whether short-term rentals, in addition to bed and breakfasts, should be permitted within View Royal, subject to applicable requirements. Therefore:

  1. Are you in favour of allowing short-term rentals in the Town of View Royal, if they are conducted in alignment with Provincial legislation?
    • YES, I am in favour.
    • NO, I am opposed.

What does a non-binding plebiscite question on the ballot mean?

The question is intended to provide the Council elected in 2026 with information about residents’ views on short-term rentals in View Royal.

The question is non-binding and does not create any legal obligations. A vote in favour or against the question will not, by itself, change the Town’s bylaws or permit short-term rentals in View Royal. The results will be provided to the incoming Council to help inform future discussions and decisions about short-term rentals in the Town of View Royal.

What voters need to know

Most View Royal electors will receive two ballots:

  • One ballot for Mayor, six Councillors, and the Area 3 School Trustee for School District No. 61*; and
  • One ballot for the non-binding plebiscite question.

*Note: A small number of properties in the McKenzie Lake area, west of Pike Lake, fall within the School District No. 62 catchment. These properties are located on Bate, Barker, Herbate, Thanet, and Westoby Roads. Electors in this area will receive three ballots. In addition to the ballot for Mayor and Councillors and the plebiscite question, they will receive a ballot to elect School Trustees for School District No. 62. They will not vote for an Area 3 School Trustee for School District No. 61.

How can I learn more about provincial rules for short-term rentals?

BC’s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act establishes provincial rules for short-term rentals, including a principal residence requirement in communities where it applies.

The provincial requirement generally limits short-term rentals to a host’s principal residence, plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit on the same property.

Hosts must also register with the Provincial Government, and must comply with applicable local zoning, bylaws and business licence requirements.

For information about provincial short-term rental requirements, visit the Province of BC’s short-term rental webpage.

Contact

Phone: 250-479-6800
Email: elections@viewroyal.ca