Elections

You do not have to live in the jurisdiction for which you are running. To run for local government office, you must: 

• Be a Canadian citizen, 
• Be 18 years of age or older on General Election day
• Have lived in BC for at least six months before nomination day and
• Not be disqualified from being nominated, elected or holding office

• Should only be erected once nomination papers have been filed (September 1 to 11, 2026)
• Are considered Election Advertising
• Must include an Authorization Statement  
• Do not require a permit from the District
• Can only be a maximum of 1.0m2 or 10.76 square feet

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Election signs may:

• be placed on private property, with permission of the property owner
• be placed on Highway and District right of way as long as they do not, in any way, obstruct traffic or pedestrians. 

Election signs must not :

• be within 100m of a polling station on voting days
• in any way, pose a hazard, interfere or obstruct traffic or pedestrians
• be placed on the Rail Trail
• be placed or attached to a traffic control device, curb, sidewalk, post, pole, hydrant, median, bridge or tree

REMOVAL OF SIGNS
Signs must be removed by owners the day after General Voting Day, October 18, 2026 or they will be removed by the District and the owner will be invoiced for the cost of removal.

Signs in contravention of the rules be removed by the District and the owner will be informed of the reasons for removal.

Candidates or sign owners are responsible for complying with all applicable legislation, bylaws and advertising rules. 

Additional information:

• District of Lake Country Signage Bylaw 501, 2004
• Election Signs on Highway Rights-of-Way

Elections BC  oversees campaign financing and election advertising under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act.  Find key information at the 2026 General Local Elections webpage.

Election Advertising

• Advertising rules apply from July 20, 2026 - October 17, 2026. 
• Election advertising must include an authorization statement
• Local Third-Party Advertising sponsors must be registered with Elections BC before advertising.

For more information, explore the links below:

• Local Election Advertising | Elections BC
• Local Third Party Advertising Sponsors | Elections BC
• Guide for Local Elections Third Party Sponsors | Elections BC

Candidate Expense Limits

• All candidates have expense limits that apply during the campaign period.
• Candidate Expense Limits can be found at the following link: 
  Candidate Expense Limits | Elections BC

For more information, explore the links below:

• Guide to Campaign Financing for Local Candidates and Financial Agents in B.C. | Elections BC

Additional Elections BC Resources

• Local Quick Reference Sheets | Elections BC Election Advertising for Candidates | Elections BC
• Local Guides | Elections BC 
• Information Sessions | Elections BC 
• Online Learning | Elections BC

The Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs has helpful videos and guides outlining what's involved.

You must register at the time of voting by providing 2 pieces of ID. Picture ID is not required. At least one piece of ID must contain your signature. ID must prove identify and that you are a resident of Lake Country. 

The following documents can be used: 

• Driver's License,
• BC ID Card
• BC Care Card
• SIN Card
• ICBC registration/insurance
• Citizenship Card
• Property Tax Notice
• Credit or debit card
• a utility bill 

Eligible Voter figures are calculated using a population data tool from ArcGIS (Esri) and Environics Analytics. This tool incorporates the latest Statistics Canada census information, population figures from BC Stats and a wide variety of other regularly updated statistics such as housing growth, migration trends, and other indicators between census cycles. Census data helps us understand the age breakdown of residents in the community who are 18 years of age and older and BC Stats data provides estimated population figures between census years. 

Using all the available data ensures our voter estimates are as accurate and current as possible between census years, while still being grounded in Statistics Canada data.

Here are the Population and estimated Eligible Voters figures for the 2026 General Local Election. 

Any qualified elector (or non-resident property elector) may vote by mail. 

Application forms will be available in early September until October 15, 2026.

Mail ballots will be delivered as soon as the ballots are printed after the nomination period (late September).

Mail ballots can be picked up at the Municipal Hall by you or another authorized person. They can be sent through regular mail to a residential address or couriered at your expense. 

It is your responsibility to ensure the completed ballot is received at the Municipal Hall no later than 8:00 p.m. Saturday October 17, 2026.

Ballots can be dropped off, mailed or couriered to the District of Lake Country at 10150 Bottom Wood Lake Road, Lake Country, BC V4V 2M1.

If you own property in the District of Lake Country but reside elsewhere in BC, you may qualify to register and vote as a non-resident property elector in the upcoming election.

Only 1 person registered on title may vote per property AND that person requires written consent from a majority of all others listed on title in order to vote. 

If you own more than one property in the District of Lake Country, you can only register for one of the parcels.

If a company, corporation or trust is registered on title, no individual is eligible to vote as a non-resident property elector for that property. 

Non-resident property electors must be:  

• 18 years of age or older on general voting day;
• a Canadian Citizen;
• a resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration;
• the registered owner of real property for at least 30 days before the date of registration;
• not disqualified from voting under the Local Government Act or any other piece of legislation; and
• not entitled to register as a resident elector of the municipality.

How do I register to vote as a Non-Resident Property Elector?

• complete and submit the NRPE Application to Register Form [PDF/100KB]
• complete and submit NRPE Consent Form [PDF/78KB] if 2 or more property owners are registered on title 
• provide 2 pieces of ID proving identity and residency (see acceptable identification)  
• submit proof of ownership of the real property located in the District of Lake Country

Note: ID proving identity and residency can also be used as proof of ownership.

You can register in advance at the District of Lake Country offices or at the time you are voting.

To vote as a resident of Lake Country you must be: 

• 18 years of age or older on general voting day
• a Canadian Citizen
• a resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration
• a resident of the District of Lake Country
• not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or otherwise disqualified by law. 

To vote as a non-resident property elector (NRPE), you must be: 

• 18 years of age or older on general voting day
• a Canadian Citizen
• a resident of BC for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration
• an owner of real property in the District of Lake Country for at least 30 days immediately before general voting day
• You must not be entitled to register as a resident elector