Some folks on the island seem to have got the impression -- partly because of all the "tax payer" rhetoric being used by the opposition to the Hall support service -- that only property owners are allowed to vote in our upcoming referenda.
This is not the case.
Here's the official word (from SRD's web site):
Inclusion on the list of registered electors for British Columbia or Canada will not automatically qualify a person to register for voting on Bylaws No. 328 or 341 or to obtain a ballot.
All electors must meet the following qualifications:
Qualified resident electors must be a resident of Electoral Area B (Cortes Island) for at least 30 days immediately preceding voting registration. Proof of identity and residency must be provided with signed registration form to vote.
Non-Resident Property Electors
Electors not residing on Cortes Island but who own real property within Electoral Area B (Cortes Island) for at least 30 days immediately preceding voting registration may be eligible to vote. Proof of identity and property ownership must be provided with signed registration form to vote.
If more than one person is registered as an owner of the property in question, the person wishing to cast the vote for that property must provide at the time of registration, written consent from a majority of the property owners. Non-resident property electors may only vote once within a voting jurisdiction regardless of the number of properties owned.
No corporation is entitled to register as an elector or to appoint a representative to register as an elector.
Got all that? Basically in order to vote you must be either a bona fide resident of Cortes Island (Area B) for at least 30 days prior to registering to vote, or a bona fide property owner.
Only one non-resident owner of a property with multiple owners may vote for that property, and must provide written consent from a majority of the other owners. No matter how many parcels you own, if you are a non-resident property owner you may only vote ONCE.
Your Elections Canada voter status does not entitle you to vote in the Referenda. You must register separately to vote. You can fill out your registration form in advance, which would save everyone a lot of time at the polls; but it might be best to wait to sign it until you're in front of the polling official so that there's no question about your signature being properly witnessed.
SRD Says: You may only register to vote at the time of voting. There is no advance registration available. Registration forms will be available at voting locations or online at www.srd.ca for those who wish to prefill forms to bring to voting locations.
DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 18TH (for SRD to receive your request, not for you to postmark it). You can email or post your request for a mail in ballot. The email address is elections@srd.ca.
Hope this clarifies voter eligibility and how to register.