Frequently Asked Questions
General local and school elections in BC are held every four years on the third Saturday in October. On Saturday, October 15, 2022, Richmond voters will elect a Mayor, eight Councillors and seven School Trustees.
Key dates and locations- When is General Voting Day?
- Where do I vote on General Voting Day?
- When and where are the advance voting days?
- When can candidates be nominated?
- What is the City of Richmond Elections Office?
- Am I eligible to vote?
- Do I have to register in advance of General Voting Day (October 15, 2022)?
- How do I register to vote?
- Do I have to re-register to vote each election?
- What is the Voters List?
- Which types of ID (identification document) do I need to register?
- How do I update my name and/or residential address on the Voters List?
- My family member or friend passed away. How do I remove them from the Voters List?
- What do I do with my voter information card?
- What if I didn't receive a voter information card?
- Can I vote by mail?
- Can I vote online?
- Can I take a photo, video, or audio recording at the voting place?
- Are voting places accessible by people who use wheelchairs and mobility scooters?
- What if I am unable to vote in person on General Voting Day, and at all advance voting opportunities?
- What if I need assistance with reading or marking my ballot at the voting booth?
- What ways can I mark my ballot independently if I have a physical disability; illness; and/or injury?
- What if I am unable to enter the voting place?
- What voting options do I have if I live in a care home?
- What if English is not my first language?
- Will there be COVID-19 protocols in effect at voting places?
- Am I eligible to vote as a non-resident property elector?
- How do I vote as a non-resident property elector?
- What if I own a property with someone else in Richmond and neither of us lives on the property–can both of us vote?
- What if I own a property in Richmond with someone else and that person is living in the house–can both of us vote?
- Am I eligible to run for office?
- How do I get nominated?
- Where and when do I file my nomination papers?
- Is there a nomination fee or deposit?
- What is an elector organization/civic political party?
- What is a campaign financing disclosure statement?
When is General Voting Day?
General Voting Day is Saturday, October 15, 2022 between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm.
Where do I vote on General Voting Day?To vote on General Voting Day, you can vote at assigned location on your Voter Card or check online. General Voting Day places will be published online soon.
When and where are the Advance Voting Days?There will be ten Advance Voting places over five days.
When can candidates be nominated?The candidate nomination period begins on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. and ends on Friday, September 9, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.
What is the City of Richmond Elections Office?The Richmond Elections Office is a non-partisan office that administers the 2022 Richmond Election. The Elections Office can also provide information to eligible Richmond voters and candidates including:
- registration assistance
- voting place information to eligible voters
If you have questions, feel free to contact the Richmond Elections Office.
Am I eligible to vote?
You may vote in the Richmond Election as a resident elector if you meet all of the requirements:
- are a Canadian citizen
- are at least 18 years old on General Voting Day (Saturday, October 15, 2022)
- are a resident of Richmond
- have been a resident of BC for at least six months before registering to vote (April 14, 2022 is the last day to meet residency requirement if registering on General Voting Day)
- are not disqualified from voting by law
Non-Resident Property Elector
You are eligible to vote as a non-resident property elector if you:
- are a Canadian citizen
- are at least 18 years old on General Voting Day (Saturday, October 15, 2022)
- are not a Richmond resident
- personally own a property in Richmond for at least 30 days before registering to vote (September 14, 2022) is the last day to meet local proper ownership requirement if registering on General Voting Day). Your property cannot be wholly or jointly owned by a corporation, business, or an organization.
- have been a resident of BC for at least six months before registering to vote (April 14, 2022 is the last day to meet residency requirement if registering on General Voting Day)
- are not disqualified from voting by law
No. If you are an eligible voter, and are not registered, you may register in advance before Tuesday, August 23, 2022. After this date, you may register in-person on General Voting Day, at an advance voting opportunity, or when requesting a mail ballot.
How do I register to vote?If you are eligible to vote in the 2022 Richmond Election, find out if you're already on the Voters List, or register in advance.
You may register to vote in advance through Elections BC by Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. or you can also register in-person when you vote or when you apply online for a mail ballot.Register when you vote:
- Find out if you're eligible to vote.
- Find out when and where to vote.
- Bring two separate pieces of ID (identification document) that together include your name and residential address. One piece must include your signature.
No. If you voted in the previous provincial, federal or local government elections, then it is very likely that you are already registered to vote for the 2022 Richmond Election. You can check if you're already on the Voters List.
The City of Richmond uses the Province of BC's Voters List for Elections. Elections BC maintains and updates the Voters List between elections. However, if you have recently moved and have not updated your residential address you can update your information with Elections BC until August 23, 2022. You can also update your name and/or residential address when you vote in-person.
What is the Voters List?The City of Richmond uses the Province of BC’s Voters List for Elections. Elections BC maintains and updates the Voters List between elections. The Voters List includes your name and residential address if you are a registered elector.
In accordance with the Local Government Act, the Voters List for the City of Richmond will only be available for public inspection in person at the Richmond Elections Office between Tuesday, August 2 and Tuesday, August 23, 2022.
To view the Voters List, you must sign an official statement declaring that you will only view the Voters List in accordance with the Local Government Act. You may only object to the registration of an elector on the basis that the person has died, or is not qualified to be an elector in Richmond.
As per the Local Government Act, candidates may request a copy of the Voters List for election purposes only. When no longer required, Voters Lists must be destroyed. The Local Government Act provides serious penalties for the misuse of the Voters List.
You may request your name and/or address to be omitted from or obscured from the Voters List. Please contact the Richmond Elections Office to complete this request by Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.
If you are not on the Voters List, you can register when you vote.
Which types of ID (identification document) do I need to register?We encourage you to be prepared and bring two pieces of ID with you.
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
You may update your information with Elections BC until August 23, 2022. You can also update your name and/or residential address when you vote in-person. Please bring two pieces of ID (identification document) when you go to the General Voting Day voting place (coming soon) or at an advance voting opportunity. You will be required to fill out a 200M form to change your name and/or address. The form will be provided in person, or you may print, fill out the 200M form in advance and bring it with you.
My family member or friend passed away. How do I remove them from the Voters List?
You may remove the name of your family member or friend from the Voters List by contacting Elections BC by calling 1-800-661-8683 or emailing voterservices@elections.bc.ca.
What do I do with my voter information card?On General Voting Day (October 15, 2022), you must vote your designated voting location. Please go to the General Voting Day voting place listed on your voter card if you are voting on General Voting Day (October 15, 2022). Please bring at least one (1) piece of ID along with your voters card. You are encouraged to bring the card along with you to vote; however, it is not required to vote. If you wish, you can also vote at an advance voting opportunity.
What if I didn't receive a voter information card?You don't need a voter information card to vote; it is for informational purposes only. If you didn't receive a voter information card, you can find all the information at richmond.ca/elections.
Can I vote by mail?Yes! For the 2022 Election, all eligible voters will be able to request to vote by mail ballot.
Can I vote online?
No. Online voting is not available in BC.
Please do not record anything (photo, video, or audio) inside the voting place to respect everyone's privacy and to respect the election process. You may take a selfie outside of the voting place and use the hashtag #rmdelxn when you post your selfie.
Voter AssistanceAre voting places accessible by people who use wheelchairs and mobility scooters?
We strive to ensure that voting locations are accessible for people who use wheelchairs, walkers and mobility scooters; however, some locations are not fully accessible. We will ensure curb-side voting is well signed at locations that are not fully accessible. We are also offering mail ballot voting as an alternative to entering the voting place.
What if I am unable to vote in person on General Voting Day, and at all advance voting opportunities?All eligible voters will have the opportunity to apply to vote by mail ballot.
What if I need assistance with reading or marking my ballot at the voting booth?You may bring a family member from your household to assist you with reading or marking your ballot at the voting booth. They must make a solemn declaration to faithfully and impartially assist you. An Elector Assistance Voting Booth will be provided to ensure your privacy.
There will be an accessible ballot-marking device available at Richmond City Hall on advance voting dates (October 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8). With this accessible ballot-marking device, you will be able to mark your ballot independently using the following options:
- descriptive audio
- touch screen
- rocker paddle device
- Braille keypad
- connections for sip and puff devices
However, you may bring a family member from your household, or request for an Election Official to assist you with reading or marking your ballot at the voting booth. This person must make a solemn declaration to faithfully and impartially assist you. An Elector Assistance Voting Booth will be provided to ensure your privacy.
If you are physically unable to enter the voting place because of physical disability or impaired mobility, you may request to vote in your vehicle in the parking lot or street curb. This is known as curb-side voting. Please call the Richmond Elections Office at 604-276-4100 once you arrive at the voting place. Alternatively you can vote using a mail ballot.
What voting options do I have if I live in a care home?If you live in a care home in Richmond and are not able to attend a voting place at advance voting opportunities or General Voting Day, special voting opportunities will be available at various care homes.
What if English is not my first language?Voting instructions and other voting information will be posted at the voting places in French, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Punjabi. You may bring a family member from your household to translate for you when you vote. They must make a solemn declaration to faithfully and impartially assist you.
Ballots are only available in English.
Will there be COVID-19 protocols in effect at voting places?Since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic, elections and by-elections have safely taken place in British Columbia in order to serve the democratic interests of communities. For the 2022 Richmond Election, the safety of voters, candidates, candidate representatives and election staff will continue to be paramount. A detailed Election Communicable Disease Plan will be put in place in order to ensure a safe election.
Non-Resident Property ElectorsAm I eligible to vote as a non-resident property elector?
You are eligible to vote as a non-resident property elector if you:
- are a Canadian citizen
- are at least 18 years old on General Voting Day (Saturday, October 15, 2022)
- are not a Richmond resident
- personally own a property in Richmond for at least 30 days before registering to vote (April 28, 2021 is the last day to meet local proper ownership requirement if registering on General Voting Day). Your property cannot be wholly or jointly owned by a corporation, business, or an organization.
- have lived in BC for at least six months before registering to vote (April 14, 2022 is the last day to meet residency requirement if registering on General Voting Day)
- are not disqualified from voting by law
Please contact the Richmond Elections Office for more details.
What if I own a property with someone else in Richmond and neither of us lives on the property–can both of us vote?No, only one non-resident property elector may vote per property. When you own a property with another person(s), the majority of owners must provide consent and designate one owner to vote as the non-resident property elector for that property. No one is eligible to vote in relation to property owned through or in conjunction with a corporation.
What if I own a property in Richmond with someone else and that person is living in the house–can both of us vote?Yes, the person living in the house may vote as a resident elector if they meet the voting eligibility requirements. If you don’t live in Richmond and meet the non-resident property elector eligibility requirements, you may vote as long as you have co-owned the property for at least 30 days immediately before registering to vote. The other owner must designate – in writing – you as the non-resident property elector for that property.
CandidatesAm I eligible to run for office?
In order to run as a candidate, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen
- be at least 18 years old on General Voting Day (Saturday, October 15, 2022)
- be a resident of BC for at least six months before the date of nomination (April 14, 2022 is the last day to meet BC residency requirements to be nominated as a candidate)
- In addition, you must not have been otherwise disqualified by law
If you are nominated to be a candidate for the 2022 Richmond Election, you are not required to be a resident of the City of Richmond. If you are a City of Richmond, Richmond School Board, or Metro Vancouver employee, you are required to take a leave of absence before being nominated. If elected, you must resign from your City, School Board, or Metro Vancouver position.
How do I get nominated?To run for office in Richmond, you need two nominators. No nomination deposit is required. You must complete all nomination forms. Nomination forms will be available online soon.
Where and when do I file my nomination papers?You must file your nomination documents with the Richmond Elections Office. The candidate nomination period begins on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. and ends on Friday, September 9, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.
Once you’ve completed all nomination forms, you are required to make an appointment during the nomination period with the Richmond Elections Office.
Is there a nomination fee or deposit?No, there is no nomination fee or deposit required.
What is an elector organization/civic political party?An elector organization is an organization that endorses or intends to endorse a candidate(s) in local elections and files endorsement documents with the local Chief Election Officer.
An elector organization may endorse you on the ballot by allowing its name, abbreviation or acronym to appear on the ballot beside your name and/or promote your election platform or the organization’s viewpoints during its election campaign. Elector organizations are also known as “civic political parties.”
For more details, please review the Province of BC’s website.
What is a campaign financing disclosure statement?Elections BC, under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act (LECFA), oversees all aspects of local elections related to campaign financing and election advertising.
For more information, please visit Elections BC or contact the Local Elections Campaign Financing Office at (toll-free) 1-800-661-8683 or electoral.finance@elections.bc.ca.
Please review the Province of BC’s website.
Election EmploymentHow do I submit an application to work for the Richmond Election?
The City of Richmond is hiring for the 2022 Richmond Election. Job descriptions and application information are available under Employment Opportunities.
