Municipal Election 2026

Tofino uses the Provincial Voters List (prepared and maintained by Elections BC) for its List of Resident Electors, and maintains its own List of Non-Resident Property Electors for use in the 2026 General Local Election.

If you are 18 years or older and a resident of Tofino, or you own property in Tofino but reside in another municipality, you may be eligible to vote in in the General Local Election as a resident or non-resident property elector.

Eligible electors who live on a First Nation reserve can vote.  Where that person votes depends on whether the reserve is located within the District of Tofino municipality, or the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District.

For information on voter eligibility, please see below.

If you are not sure of what type of voter you are, or what requirements need to be met, please contact the Chief Election Officer at election@tofino.ca or 250-725-3229.

Please contact Elections BC for details on how to:

• Update your voter information, such as your residential or mailing address
• Register for the List of Future Voters if you are 16 or 17 years old

In order to be eligible to vote in Tofino's general local election as a resident, a person must:

• Be 18 years of age or older when they register to vote or 18 years or older on general voting day (October 17, 2026);
• Be a Canadian citizen;
• Have been a resident of B.C. for at least six months immediately before they register to vote;
• Be a resident of the District of Tofino;
• Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment from voting in local elections or be otherwise disqualified by law.

If you are not sure of what type of voter you are, or what requirements need to be met, please contact the Chief Election Officer at election@tofino.ca or 250-725-3229.

When a person lives in one municipality and owns property in one or more other municipalities, they may vote once in each of the other municipalities where they own property - as long as they meet the voter eligibility requirements.

A non-resident property elector must:

• Be 18 years of age or older when they register to vote or 18 years or older on general voting day (October 17, 2026);
• Be a Canadian citizen;
• Have been a resident of B.C. for at least six months immediately before they register to vote;
• Be the registered owner of real property in the District of Tofino for at least 30 days immediately before they register to vote;
• Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment from voting in local elections or be otherwise disqualified by law.

Only one person is eligible to vote as the non-resident property elector for that property when a person owns a property with one or more other individuals. The owner entitled to vote must be designated, in writing, by the majority of the property owners.

Download the Non-Resident Property Elector Consent Form.

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.

If you are not sure of what type of voter you are, or what requirements need to be met, please contact the Chief Election Officer at election@tofino.ca or 250-725-3229.

How do I register to vote as a resident elector?

You may already be registered to vote in the general local election as Tofino uses the Provincial Voters List. If you are already registered, you are not required to re-register. You may also register at the time of voting.

Resident elector who are not already registered must complete a registration form and provide two (2) separate pieces of identification to register at the time of voting, showing proof of identity and residency, with at least one piece including a signature.

You can make a solemn declaration about where you live if none of your identification documents contains an address.

How do I register to vote as a non-resident property elector?

Tofino maintains its own list of non-resident property electors. If you are already registered, you are not required to re-register. You may also register at the time of voting.

To register as a non-resident property elector, you must complete a registration form and provide two (2) separate pieces of identification that proves identity and place of residence, one of which includes a signature.

You will also be required to provide a document that proves you own the property for which you are voting. Examples of acceptable proof of ownership documents include: Certificate of Title, Property Tax Notice, or Property Assessment Notice. Photocopies are acceptable.

If the property is jointly owned, you must also have written consent by the majority of registered owners that designates you to vote as the sole non-resident property elector for the subject property.