Who is eligible to vote in a municipal election?

There are two types of voters that are qualified to vote in a municipal election.

1. Resident Voters: In order to qualify as a resident voter, a person must be:

   • A Canadian citizen;

   • At least 18 years of age on Election Day; and

   • A resident of the local authority or Local Urban District for at least six months on Election Day.

2. Persons with no fixed address may vote in a municipal election. If the person has no ordinary or "fixed" residence in the local authority, they are deemed to reside at the shelter, hostel or other similar institution that most frequently provides lodging, food or other social services.

3. Non-resident Voters: In order to qualify as a non-resident voter, a person must be:

   • A Canadian citizen;

   • At least 18 years of age on Election Day; and

   • A registered owner of land in the municipality or Local Urban District for at least six months on Election Day.

4. For municipal election purposes, "registered owner of land" means:

   1. a tenant or occupier of the land, if his or her name is entered on the latest revised realty assessment roll as the owner of a right, interest or estate in it; or

   2. if no person qualifies under clause (a), the person who is the owner of a freehold estate in the land, including a person who is owner with another person, as joint tenants, or tenants in common of a freehold estate OR a person who is registered under The Condominium Act as the owner, defined in that Act, of a unit under that Act.

5. If there are more than two non-resident property owners for a single property, a maximum of two can vote in a municipal election. In order to vote, each voter must obtain written consent from the majority of the registered property owners, and file this with the Senior Election Official.

   In the case of ward elections, a voter must vote in the ward where they reside, even if they own property in more than one ward. If a property owner does not reside in the municipality, but owns property in more than one ward, the person must apply to the Senior Election Official to designate their voting ward. The voter must choose a ward before the voters list is closed to revisions, or the Senior Election Official will choose a ward on the voters behalf.

I don't live in the municipality, but I own property - Can I vote?

If you are a resident of Manitoba, own property in the municipality, and are otherwise qualified to vote, you may be able to vote in the municipal election as a non-resident property owner.

If you own property with other non-resident property owners, only two of you can vote. You must obtain written consent from the majority of the other property owners and file this with the Senior Election Official in order to vote.

How can I find out if my municipal councillors are elected in wards?

It is up to the local council to decide whether councillors are elected at-large or by wards. The Rural Municipality of La Broquerie Councillors are elected by ward.

I live in one municipality, and own property in another municipality. Can I vote in both municipal elections?

Yes, if you are qualified as a resident voter in one municipality, and are qualified as a non-resident property owner in another municipality, you can vote in both municipal elections.

My property is registered in the name of a corporation. Am I qualified to vote as a non-resident owner in the municipal election where that property is located?

No, the owners of a corporation or a company do not qualify to vote in a municipal election as non-resident owners. Unless you are a resident of the municipality, your property must be registered in your name and not in the name of a corporation before you qualify to vote.

Can I have my name, address and other information omitted or obscured from the voters' list?

If a voter wishes to have their information obscured from the voters' list, they may file an application with the SEO in person, by mail or by fax. After receiving the application, the SEO must give the applicant a personal security certificate that includes an identification number to be used as a replacement for the person's name and address. A person who is given a personal security certificate may only vote by sealed envelope ballot.

Do I need identification in order to vote?

A voter may be asked to produce identification before being given a ballot by the voting official if there are questions about the voter's eligibility. All voters should bring identification with them to the voting place, or when requesting a sealed envelope ballot in person. Even voters who request a sealed envelope ballot in writing must submit photocopies of their ID when applying to vote. Acceptable identification includes an official document issued by the federal, provincial or municipal government that contains the voter's name, address and photograph or at least two documents that provide evidence satisfactory to the election official.

If I am not on the voters list, can I still register to vote on Election Day?

Yes, any qualified voter who is not on the voters list can vote on Election Day. However, you will be asked to provide photo identification when registering to vote, so ensure to bring acceptable identification with you to the voting station.

Am I allowed to look at the voters list?

A voter is only entitled to view their own personal information on the voters list to determine whether it is correct. Voters may contact their Senior Election Official to find out a good time to view their information, if interested. Only candidates, their official agents and election officials are entitled to view the full voters list, and the information on the voters list may be used for election purposes only.