Frequently Asked Questions

We encourage you to bring two pieces of ID.

If you are registering for the first time, you must provide two pieces of ID that together include your name and residential address. One piece must include your signature.

Examples of acceptable ID (not limited to this list):

• BC Driver's Licence
• BC Identification card issued by ICBC
• BC Services card (includes both non-photo BC Services card or photo BC Services card)
• Owner’s Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence issued by ICBC
• BC CareCard or BC Gold CareCard
• Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction Request for Continued Assistance Form SDES8 (“Monthly Form EA181”)
• Social Insurance Number card
• Canadian Citizenship card
• Property tax notice
• Credit card or debit card
• Utility bill (including electricity, natural gas, water, telephone services, cable services)
• Birth Certificate
• Canadian Passport
• A Certificate of Indian Status
• Old Age Security Identification card
• Canadian Forces Photo ID

It is strongly suggested that you register in advance of General Voting Day by completing an application form (Form 12) and submitting the following:
• a document to prove property ownership (e.g. Certificate of Title, Property Tax Notice from the City of Richmond, or Property Assessment Notice from BC Assessment Authority);
• two identity documents (IDs) (when combined, the two IDs must show the name and address of the applicant and at least one of the IDs must include the applicant’s signature); and,
• a completed Non-Resident Property Elector Consent Form, if the property is jointly owned.

In the application form, you must indicate how you plan to vote so that your application can be processed accordingly.

You must then either email the completed application form and required documents to elections@richmond.ca, or drop them off in-person at Richmond City Hall - Customer Service Counter.  (Please put the documents in an envelope and address it to the Chief Election Officer.)
Once your application and the required documents are received, the Richmond Election Office will review and verify the information provided.   We will then notify you if your application has been approved and provide additional voting information.

If you choose to vote by mail, please note that once you request a mail ballot package, you CANNOT vote in person at an advance voting opportunity or on General Voting Day.  Mail ballot packages will be mailed out beginning September 28th until October 7th.  After October 7th, mail ballot packages will need to be picked up at Richmond City Hall.

You must re-register each election as you will not be included in the Richmond Voters List.

If you are completing your application form and submitting the required documents on General Voting Day, you will only be able to vote in-person at a designated voting location; the mail ballot option will no longer be available.  In addition, there could be a slight delay in receiving approval of your application as the information you provide will require verification.

All existing and new electors will be able to request a mail ballot package. Your package will include step-by-step instructions on how to fill out and return your mail ballot.

New eligible electors will receive an Elections BC voter registration form (200M) along with their mail ballot package. The form must be filled in completely. If the form is incomplete, the mail ballot will not be accepted.

Non-resident property electors must contact the Richmond Elections Office at 604-276-4100 to obtain a mail ballot package.

IMPORTANT: Once you have requested a mail ballot package, you CANNOT vote in person at the advance voting opportunities or on General Voting Day.

By Phone:
Contact the Mail Ballot Call Centre at 604-276-4100, Mondays to Fridays (except holidays), 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., September 15 – October 15, 2026.

Online:
Visit the Mail Ballots section at richmond.ca/elections to request a mail ballot online. Online applications are available from September 15 until October 9 at 3:00 p.m. Before you start, you must check if you are registered to vote using the Am I on the Voters List? tool. After you complete the search, the system will guide you to the next step.

Helpful Information before you start the Online Application Process:
This application works in Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Safari. It may not work in Internet Explorer.

All eligible voters applying online will be required to upload ID (identification card or document) for a mail ballot package. ID is needed to confirm voter identity, place of residence and eligibility.  Learn more about ID requirements in the question below.

At the end of the application process, you will be provided with a confirmation code. You will also receive a confirmation email if you provided an email address. Please keep a copy of the confirmation code as you will need it if you must contact the Richmond Elections Office regarding your application.

All eligible voters will be required to upload ID (identification card or document) when applying online for a mail ballot package. ID is needed to confirm voter identity, place of residence and eligibility.

Existing voters will be required to upload one (1) piece of ID (which at minimum, must include their name and Richmond home/residential address OR their name and date of birth).

New voters will be required to upload two (2) pieces of ID (which when combined must include their name, Richmond home/residential address, date of birth, and signature). See the sample list of acceptable IDs below.

It is strongly recommended that the ID(s) be saved on your electronic device before you begin filling out the online form. To upload a piece of ID, scan the ID or take a photo with your device.
Valid image file types include JPG, JPEG, GIF, TIF, TIFF, BMP, PDF, PNG.

Acceptable IDs/documents for Mail ballot application

Government-Issued ID

• BC Driver’s Licence
• BC Identity Card (issued by ICBC)
• BC Services Card (with or without photo)
• Birth Certificate
• Canadian Passport
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
• Certificate of Indian Status
• Canadian Citizenship Card 

Other Government-Issued Documents
• Property tax notice
• Income tax assessment notice
• Owner’s Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence (issued by ICBC)

Other Documents
• School/College/University-Issued ID
• Utility bill issued for the supply of electricity, natural gas, water, telephone services
• Home/residential lease agreement

Important Notes
• Do not upload a selfie. It is not an ID.
• The front and back of an ID does not meet the requirement for two (2) pieces of ID.
• For your own security, bank (debit) or credit cards (or credit card statements) are not recommended IDs.
• The Voter Card, which existing voters will receive in the mail, will not be accepted as an ID.
• The combined BC Driver’s Licence and Services Card will count as one (1) ID, not two (2). 

Mail ballot packages will be mailed out as regular mail via Canada Post beginning September 28th, 2026, only after the list of candidates has been confirmed and ballots printed.

Per Canada Post's website, "mail delivery standards vary depending on distance. Standards are not guaranteed and may be affected by holidays and seasonal volume, but can generally expect delivery within the following time frames:

• 2 business days for your local area;
  
• 3 business days within your province;
  
• 4 business days across Canada; and
  
• Up to 7 business days internationally”.

The mail ballot package can be sent to an address outside of Canada but only until October 1. The Mail Ballot Office cannot guarantee the elector’s receipt of the mail ballot package nor the delivery date. Additionally, the elector is responsible to add the appropriate postage or for the cost of courier service if sending the Mail Ballot Return Envelope package from outside of Canada.
 
Completed mail ballots must be received by the Chief Election Officer at Richmond City Hall, by 8:00 p.m. PST on Saturday, October 17, 2026, to be counted.

General
Your personal information is collected solely for the purposes of administering mail ballots for the City of Richmond’s Election on October 17, 2026. The collection, use and disclosure of your personal information for this purpose is in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act section 26 (c) and the Local Government Act Part 3.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this collection, you may contact the Richmond Elections Office at elections@richmond.ca / 604-276-4100 or the Richmond’s FOI/Privacy Coordinator at foi@richmond.ca / 604-276-4156.

ID Specific
Copies of your personal identification are collected and used to confirm your identity when making a mail ballot package request and is required to uphold the integrity of the voting process. All IDs which are uploaded are stored electronically on servers which are in Canada and are only accessible to election staff. These images will be deleted completely shortly after the conclusion of the election event (on October 17, 2026). This collection and use is in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act section 26 (c).

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this collection, you may contact the Elections Office at elections@richmond.ca / 604-276-4100 or the Richmond’s FOI/Privacy Coordinator at foi@richmond.ca / 604-276-4156.

Yes.  To vote in the upcoming election, the non-resident property elector must fill in a non-resident property application form, and submit the completed application form and the following documents via email or in-person:

• Non-Resident Property Elector Consent Form, if the property is jointly owned;
  
• A document to prove property ownership (e.g. Certificate of Title, Property Tax Notice from the City of Richmond, or Property Assessment Notice from BC Assessment Authority); and,
  
• Two identity documents (IDs) (when combined, the two IDs must show the name and address of the applicant, and at least one of the IDs must include the applicant’s signature).

Once the application is approved, the elector will be advised accordingly, and they will be sent a mail ballot package.

Once the completed application has been received and approved, a mail ballot package will be mailed to the voter.  Mail ballot packages will be mailed out beginning September 28, only after the list of candidates has been finalized and the ballots printed.

To ensure mail ballot packages are received in time by the voter, they will only be mailed out through Canada Post until October 7. After this date, voters will be required to pick up.