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Voters head to the polls tomorrow

Municipal elections happen in Greater Victoria and across B.C. on Nov. 19

Get ready to mark your ballot.

Voters head to the polls tomorrow (Nov. 19) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to vote for one mayor, up to six councillors, and up to nine school trustees

To vote, you must be 18 years or older on the general voting day; you must be a Canadian citizen; you must have resided in British Columbia for at least six months immediately prior to general voting day and you must have been a resident of Oak Bay for at least 30 days immediately prior to general voting day.

The question of residence can be an interesting one in a municipality which, like Oak Bay, is home to a major post-secondary educational institution. If you are from out of town and are a student attending the University of Victoria, for example, you can choose either your normal home or the home that you have established in order to attend that institution as your “residence” for the purpose of the voting eligibility rules.

The university student situation is an exception to the normal residence rule. By and large, you are a resident of the area where you live and to which, whenever absent, you intend to return. You do not cease being a resident of an area by leaving it for temporary purposes only. And, of course, for the purpose of voting eligibility, you can be the resident of only one area at a time.

If you are not on the voters’ list, you can register on election day by producing at least two documents that provide evidence of your identity and place of residence, at least one of which must contain your signature; or produce to the election official at least two documents that provide evidence of your identity, at least one of which must contain your signature, and make a solemn declaration as to your place of residence.

editor@oakbaynews.com