NOTICE OF ADVANCE VOTING AND MAIL BALLOT VOTING

NOTICE OF ADVANCE VOTING AND MAIL BALLOT VOTING

PUBLIC NOTICE IS GIVEN AS FOLLOWS:

ADVANCE VOTING DATES AND LOCATION

ONE ADVANCE VOTING OPPORTUNITY will be HELD October 7, 2026, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.,

Electoral Area A, B, C and (Tla'amin Nation for School District only):

• qathet Regional District, Board Chambers - 201-4675 Marine Avenue, Powell River, B.C.

Electoral Area D:

• Texada Seniors Centre - Old Gillies Bay School, 5079 Gillies Bay Road, Gilles Bay, B.C.

Electoral Area E:

• Lasqueti Community Hall - Main Road, Lasqueti Island, B.C.

ELECTOR REGISTRATION WILL TAKE PLACE AT TIME OF VOTING

You may register at the time of voting by completing the application form available at the voting place and by making a declaration that you meet the requirements to be registered as set out below:

RESIDENT ELECTORS:

To register as a resident elector you must:

• be 18 years of age or older on general voting day [October 17, 2026];
• be a Canadian citizen;
• be a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration (at time of voting);
• be a resident in the voting jurisdiction on the day of registration at time of voting; and
• not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or assent voting and not otherwise disqualified by law.

NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY ELECTORS:

To register as a non-resident property elector you must:

• be 18 years of age or older on general voting day [October 17, 2026];
• be a Canadian citizen;
• be a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration (at time of voting);
• be a registered owner of real property in the voting jurisdiction for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration (at time of voting);
• not be entitled to register as a resident elector in the voting jurisdiction; and
• not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or assent voting and not otherwise disqualified by law.

In addition, for non-resident property electors:

• 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.
• If more than one individual is registered owner of the property, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majority of the individual owners, register as a non-resident property elector.

IN ADDITION, IN ORDER TO REGISTER AT TIME OF VOTING:

Electors must provide either the birth date or the last 6 digits of the social insurance number of the applicant.

Resident electors must produce 2 pieces of identification (at least one with a signature). Picture identification is not necessary. The identification must prove both residency and identity.

Non-resident property electors must produce 2 pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) to prove identity, proof that they are entitled to register in relation to the property, and, if there is more than one owner of the property, written consent from the majority of the property owners.

TYPES OF DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE ACCEPTED AS IDENTIFICATION

You must produce at least two (2) documents that provide evidence of your identity and place of residence, at least one (1) of which must contain your signature. The following classes of documents will be accepted:

1. a Driver’s Licence;
2. an Identification Card such as
   
   1. a photo BC services card;
   2. a non-photo BC services card;
3. an Owner’s Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence issued by ICBC
4. a BC CareCard or BC Gold CareCard;
5. a Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security Request for Continued Assistance Form SDES8, (now “Monthly Form EA181);
6. a Social Insurance Number card;
7. a Citizenship Card;
8. a real property tax notice;
9. a credit card or debit card; or
10. a utility bill, (such as electricity, natural gas, water, telephone or cable services).

The above-listed identification documents MUST be accepted by election officials. An election official may also accept other forms of documents that provide evidence satisfactory to the election official (e.g., a valid, current passport).

Those electors who may require some assistance as a result of physical challenges are invited to contact the Chief Election Officer as soon as possible in order to facilitate their voting experience.

All eligible electors are able to vote in the election using a mail-in ballot. This includes both resident electors and non-resident property electors. Applications to vote by mail will be accepted until October 14, 2026 at 4:00 pm. For Applications to Vote by Mail received after October 1, 2026, electors must make arrangements to pick up the Mail Ballot Package at the qathet Regional District main office at #202-4675 Marine Ave, Powell River, B.C. Application forms are available in the office, emailing vote [at] qathet [dot] ca or by visiting qathet.ca/election-2026.

To be counted, your mail ballot must be received by the Chief Election Officer no later than 8 pm on October 17, 2026. It is the responsibility of the person intending to vote by mail ballot, to ensure that the ballot is received by this date and time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THESE MATTERS, please contact the Election Office

Michelle Jones, Chief Election Officer

Email: vote [at] qathet [dot] ca

Phone: 604-485-2260

qathet.ca/election-2026