A person is qualified to be nominated, elected, and to hold office as a member of the City of Merritt Council if they meet the following criteria:

• 18 years of age or older on general voting day (April 20, 2024);
• Canadian citizen;
• Resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day nomination papers are filed; and,
• Not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election in BC or from being nominated for, being elected to, or holding the office, or be otherwise disqualified by law.

In accordance with the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, for the 2024 By-election, the following expense limits apply in the City of Merritt by-election area during the campaign period March 23, 2024 to April 20, 2024 for:

For further information on campaign period expense limits and third-party advertising limits, contact Elections BC:
1.800.661.8683
Email: electoral.finance@elections.bc.ca
Website: elections.bc.ca

Beginning Tuesday, March 5, 2024 until the close of general voting for the by-election on Saturday, April 20, 2024, a copy of the list of registered electors will be available for public inspection during regular office hours at the City of Merritt Municipal Hall, 2185 Voght Street from 8:00 am to 5:45 pm, Tuesday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays.

Before inspecting the list, a person must sign a statement that they will not inspect the list or use the information except for the purposes of Part 3 – Electors and Elections of the Local Government Act.

Any objection to the registration of a person whose name appears on the list of registered electors must be made in writing by a person eligible to be registered as an elector and submitted to the Chief Election Officer before 4:00 pm on Friday, March 15, 2024.

Objections can only be made on the basis that the person whose name appears on the list of electors is deceased or is not qualified to be registered as an elector of the City of Merritt.

An elector may request that their address or other information about them be omitted from, or obscured on, the list of electors. Upon request, the Chief Election Officer will amend the list, which is available to the public and candidates. Submit your written request to the Chief Election Officer before February 27, 2024.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has also published guidelines for posting election signs on highway rights-of-way. The guidelines are outlined on the MOTI website.

The City of Merritt also has a Signs Bylaw.

Submit Nominations

For those wishing to run for office in the April 20, 2024 City of Merritt By-election, a Nomination Pack will be available at City Hall during regular office hours or online on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.  Submissions will be accepted from 9:00 am, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, to 4:00 pm Friday, March 15, 2024 (excluding statutory holidays and weekends).

City of Merritt Municipal Hall
PO Box 189, 2185 Voght Street, Merritt, BC V1K 1B8
or by email to: info@merritt.ca*
by 4:00PM, Friday, March 15, 2024

*Note that originals of emailed nomination documents must be received by the Chief Election Officer by 4 pm, Friday, March 22, 2024

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT: Candidates should call 250.378.8634 to make an appointment with the Chief Election Officer to submit your nomination papers.

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For other questions, contact the City’s Chief Elections Officer: Linda Brick  |   linda.brick@merritt.ca   |   250.378.8634
or Deputy Chief Election Officer: Twyla Slonski   |  twyla.slonski@merritt.ca    |   250.378.4224
info@merritt.ca

CANDIDATE PACKAGE

• Candidate Package & Forms
• Elector Organization Endorsement Package

BROCHURES

• Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MMA) | General Local Elections 101
• MMA – Supporting a Candidate for Local Elections in BC
• MMA – Thinking About Running for Local Office
• MMA – What Every Candidate Needs to Know
• MMA – Foundational Principles of Responsible Conduct

GUIDES

• Elections BC (EBC) – Guide to Local Elections Campaign Financing in BC for Candidates and Financial Agents
• EBC – Guide for Local Elections Third Party Sponsors in BC
• MMA – Candidates Guide to Local Elections in BC
• MMA – Scrutineer’s Guide to General Local Elections in BC
• MMA – Voter’s Guide to Local Elections in BC
• Ombudsperson – Open Meetings: Best Practices Guide for Local Governments

LEGISLATION, BYLAWS & POLICIES

• Local Government Act Part 3 – Electors and Elections
• Local Government Act Volunteer Eligibility for Office Regulation 165/2011
• Local Elections Campaign Financing Act
• Local Elections Campaign Financing Regulation 281/2023
• Financial Disclosure Act
• Community Charter
• City of Merritt Council Procedure Bylaw
• City of Merritt Election and Assent Voting Bylaw
• City of Merritt Council Remuneration Bylaw
• City of Merritt Council Code of Conduct
• City of Merritt Council 2024 Regular Meeting Schedule

VIDEOS

• MMA – Overview of BC General Local Elections
• MMA – The Participants in BC General Local Elections
• MMA – Candidate Nominations in BC General Local Elections
• MMA – Voting and Taking office in BC General Local Elections

WEBSITES:

• Province of BC: Local General Elections |  gov.bc.ca
• ElectionsBC (FAQ)  |   1.800.661.8683   |   E: electoral.finance@elections.bc.ca   |   W: elections.bc.ca
• Elections BC (Resources)
• Ministry of Municipal Affairs
• City of Merritt  |   Local Government Election Bylaw
• Signage Rules for Elections  |   Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI)
• Signage Rules   |   City of Merritt Signs Bylaw

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Are you eligible to vote in the April By-Election for Councillor?

RESIDENT ELECTORS:

• 18 years of age or older on general voting day (April 20, 2024);
• Canadian citizen;
• Resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration;
• Resident of the City of Merritt; and,
• Not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or be otherwise disqualified by law.

Are you eligible to vote in the April By-Election for Councillor?

NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY ELECTORS:

• Not entitled to register as a resident elector of the City of Merritt;
• 18 years of age or older on general voting day;
• Canadian citizen;
• Resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration;
• Registered owner of real property in the City of Merritt for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration;
• Not holding the property in trust for a corporation or any other trust; and,
• Not disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election or be otherwise disqualified by law.

If there is more than one registered owner of the property, you must be the owner who has the written consent of the majority of owners to register as the non-resident property elector (only one permitted per property).

A Non-resident Property Elector may only vote once in the City of Merritt, regardless of the number of properties that they may own.

A person cannot vote on behalf of a corporation, or as a non-resident property elector, based on a property owned wholly or in part by a corporation.

Non-resident Registration and Consent forms are available at the Municipal Hall. In addition to the consent form and 2 pieces of identification, non-resident property electors must also bring proof of ownership of property (such as property tax notice, assessment notice or certificate of title) and a non-resident property elector registration form.

Non-resident property owners are strongly encouraged to register in advance due to the specific information required for a complete registration. Please contact the Chief Election Officer for detailed information.

DOWNLOAD FORMS:

Complete the following forms and bring them with you on election day.

• Non-resident Registration Form
• Consent Form

Is your name on the current list of electors? Voters listed on the Elections BC Voters List as Merritt residents do not need to re-register. Visit elections.bc.ca to check or update your registration, or to register as a new voter in BC. Advance elector registrations will be accepted at the City of Merritt Municipal Hall until 4:00 pm, Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Except for new registrations in conjunction with voting, elector registrations will not be accepted during the period of February 28, 2024, to April 21, 2024.

Electors wishing to register for the first time must do so at time of voting and produce two pieces of identification that provide evidence of the applicant’s identity and place of residence, one of which must include the applicant’s signature or alternately, provide two pieces of identification verifying identity in addition to making a solemn declaration as to the applicant’s place of residence. Visit merritt.ca for a complete list of acceptable identification. Additional documentation (evidence of ownership) is required to register as a Non-resident Property Elector.

Mail ballot voting will be available to voters. In order to receive a mail ballot package you must first complete a Mail Ballot Application: download online or obtain a printed copy at the City of Merritt Municipal Hall.

Mail ballot packages will be mailed to voters on or about March 28, 2024. To be counted, mail ballots must be received by the Chief Election Officer no later than 8:00 pm on Saturday, April 20, 2024.

If you have questions relating to mail ballot voting, please contact the Chief Elections Officer and/or the Deputy Chief Elections Officer.

DOWNLOAD FORM:

• Request for Mail Ballot