There is a final chance to advance vote this week in Sechelt, Gibsons and the Sunshine Coast Regional District as local governments get ready for general voting day on Oct. 20.
The District of Sechelt’s second day of advance voting is Tuesday, Oct. 16 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the municipal hall, 5797 Cowrie St.
Sechelt’s communications manager, Julie Rogers, said turnout on the first day of advance voting was down from 2014. A total of 273 people cast ballots on Oct. 10, compared to 391 for the first day of advance voting four years ago.
The Town of Gibsons will hold its second day of advance voting on Oct. 17, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre, 700 Park Road.
Gibsons chief elections officer Wendy Lee told Coast Reporter that 202 ballots were cast on the first day of advance voting.
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) had a turnout of 168 advance voters at polling stations in Pender Harbour, Sechelt and Gibsons.
Advance voting continues Oct. 17 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pender Harbour
Community Hall, 12905 Madeira Park Road, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the SCRD Boardroom, 1975 Field Road.
All three jurisdictions allow mail-in voting, and eligible voters have until 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18 to request mail-in ballots at the District of Sechelt, Town of Gibsons or SCRD offices.
On general voting day, the District of Sechelt will have polling stations set up from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion, 5591 Wharf Ave., Davis Bay Elementary School, 5078 Davis Bay Road, and West Sechelt Elementary School, 5609 Mason Road.
The Town of Gibsons has only one polling station, at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre, 700 Park Road.
The SCRD will have several polling stations open on Oct. 20.
In Area A:
Egmont Community Hall, 6801 Bathgate Road, Egmont.
Pender Harbour Community Hall, 12905 Madeira Park Road.
Sarah Wray Hall, 4334 Irvines Landing Road, Garden Bay.
In Area D:
Roberts Creek Community Hall, 1309 Roberts Creek Road.
In Area E:
Frank West Hall, 1224 Chaster Road.
In Area F:
Eric Cardinall Hall, 930 Chamberlin Road.
Gambier Island Community Hall, Gambier Island.
9 a.m. to noon only.
Keats Camp, Keats Island
1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Voters in School District No. 46 Trustee Electoral Area 3 (Town of Gibsons and SCRD Areas D, E and F) will be able to vote for school trustees at the same polling places as they cast ballots for their Town of Gibsons or SCRD representatives.
Special voting opportunities have also been arranged for residents of the area’s long-term care homes and patients at Sechelt Hospital.
All jurisdictions are also allowing voters who are not already on the lists prepared by Elections BC to be added to the elector lists at the polling station.
You will need to show you meet the following requirements: 18 years of age or older on general voting day, Canadian citizen, resident of B.C. for at least six months immediately before the day of registration, resident of or registered owner of real property in the jurisdiction you want to vote in for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration, and not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other regulation or otherwise disqualified by law from voting in an election.
Resident electors must have at least two pieces of identification, one with a signature. Picture identification is not necessary – however, the identification must prove both residency and identity.
Non-resident property electors must provide ID and 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 other property owners.
More information is available at www.sechelt.ca, www.gibsons.ca and www.scrd.ca.
