Voter Information Guide

The overview for voters is to provide helpful information for Islanders to vote in your local municipal election.

Depending on where you live and the services you receive, municipalities oversee and can have a daily impact on:

  • water and sewerage services;
  • emergency measures planning;
  • fire services;
  • parks, culture, and recreation;
  • land use;
  • building development permits;
  • nuisance or animal control bylaws, and much more.

Voting in municipal elections is important and a key part of our democracy. Your vote:

  • helps to determine who represents your views for the future of the municipality
  • is your voice on issues that are important to you
  • impacts local services and programs provided by the municipality
  • shows that you care about what happens in your municipality and local community
  • can help to create positive change in your municipality

Who can vote in a municipal election?

You can vote in a municipal election if you:

  • Are a Canadian citizen
  • Are at least 18 years of age or older
  • Have lived in PEI for at least 6 months before election day
  • Are ordinarily a resident in the municipality on election day (“ordinarily resident” has the same meaning as it does in section 22 and 23 of the Election Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. E-1.1., defined below)

*Resort Municipality has unique eligibility for voters, see the Resort Election tab.

How can I tell if I am on the List of Electors for my municipality?

The Municipal Electoral Officer (MEO) for your municipality is responsible for developing the list of electors. Contact your MEO if you have questions. Find your municipality here.

If you are listed on the provincial registration list here this will assist being registered for the municipal election. This doesn't apply to the Resort Municipality due to their unique voters list.

How do I register as an elector in my municipality?

Electors can register or update their information with their Municipal Electoral Officer (MEO) until October 25th, 2022. After 12:00 p.m. on October 25th, 2022 there can be no additions or revisions to the list of electors. Resort Municipality date is July 26, 2022 then additions or revisions may only be made the day of election.

If you are not registered as an elector, but are eligible to vote, you will need to register at your polling station on any voting day (an advance poll day or on election day - November 7th, 2022). Resort Municipality election day is August 8, 2022.

What do I need to bring with me in order to vote in the municipal election?

Electors must bring identification (ID) or documents with their name and address. Electors can bring:

  • One piece of government ID with their name and address, (PEI driver’s license, PEI Voluntary ID card, or any other government card with your photo, name, and current address) OR
  • Two pieces of ID or documents with their name on both and address on at least one.

Identification/Residence

  • Birth Certificate
  • Voter Information Card
  • Canadian Forces ID Card
  • Bank Statement
  • Canadian Passport
  • Blank Cheques with Voter’s name imprinted
  • Firearms Possession / Acquisition License
  • Certificate of Title(vehicle/residence)
  • Health Card (PEI)
  • Credit Card Statement
  • Hospital ID Bracelet
  • First Nations Membership ID
  • Indian Status Card
  • Government Benefits Statement (EI, OAS, Social Assistance, Disability Support, Child Tax Credit, Workers Comp etc.)
  • Hunting or Fishing License
  • Income Tax Assessment
  • Band Membership Card
  • Insurance Policy/Certificate
  • Parole Card
  • Letter from Trustee / Public Guardian
  • Student Card from Post-Secondary Institute
  • Letter of Confirmation of Residence from First Nations Band
  • Veterans Affairs Health Card
  • Letter of Confirmation of Residence or document of Admission or Statement of Benefits from: -long term care facility
    • senior’s residence
    • shelter/soup kitchen
    • student residence
  • Pay Cheque/Stub (gov’t or employer)
  • Residential Lease
  • Utility Bill (power, water, cable)

Electors who cannot prove their current address can bring two pieces of ID with their name and sign a declaration at the poll – form called Oath of Elector.

Where can I find information about who is running for Council in my municipality?

The Municipal Electoral Officer (MEO) will post a notice of the nominated candidates in the municipal election office at the end of the nomination period - October 21, 2022.  The MEO also has the option to post the notice in any additional ways that capture the attention of the electors in the municipality.

When will I learn the results of a municipal election?

The latest an MEO may verify the votes is by 10:00 am on the second day after the election (November 9, 2022). Depending on the need for recounts or a judicial review, the latest possible date for the declaration of candidates would be by the second week after the election or by-election. (November 21, 2022)

Municipalities may post the results on their website.

Where can I find the contact information for a municipality?

You can check the municipality’s website for contact information. Municipal Affairs maintains a directory for all municipalities, based on the information provided by each municipality. Search the Municipal Directory

Ordinarily Resident Definition

Place of ordinary residence

The place where a person is ordinarily resident is the place where the person lives and to which, when absent, the person intends to return. Reference Election Act.

Determining Residence

22. Place of ordinary residence

(1) Subject to subsection (2) and section 23, the place where a person is ordinarily resident is the place where the person lives and to which, when absent, the person intends to return.

(2) Spouse

If a person has a spouse, the place where the person is ordinarily resident is deemed to be the place where the spouse of the person lives, unless the person establishes and continues a residence at some other place with the intention of living there separate and apart from the spouse for an indefinite period.

3. Lodgings or charitable institution, persons in

(1) Where a person, on the date of the election, is living in a lodging, hostel, home or institution conducted for charitable or semi-charitable purposes, the person is ordinarily resident on the date of the election in the electoral district where the lodging, hostel, home or institution is located.

(2) Community care facility or nursing home, person in - Where a person, on the date of the election, is living in a community care facility or in a nursing home, the person is ordinarily resident on the date of the election in the electoral district in which the community care facility or nursing home is located.

(2.1) Patients in hospitals – Where a person, on ordinary polling day, is a patient in a hospital, the person is ordinarily resident on the date of the election, while in the hospital, in the electoral district where the person is ordinarily resident within the meaning of section 22, and, if otherwise qualified as an elector, may vote in such electoral district, as permitted under sections 71 and 71.2 (Election Act.)

(3) Armed forces, persons in full-time – Where a person is serving on full-time service with the Armed Forces of Canada, or is employed outside Canada by the Armed Forces of Canada as a teacher in a Canadian Forces school or as administrative support staff for such school, the person is ordinarily resident on the date of the election

  1. while stationed within the province, in the polling division where the person is ordinarily resident within the meaning of section 22; or
  2. while stationed outside the province, on the evidence of a certificate of the person’s commanding officer to the effect that such person has designated, on or before the date of the election, as the person’s place of ordinary residence,
    1. in the polling division within the province in which the person was ordinarily resident at the date of the person’s enlistment, or
    2. in such other polling division within the province, in lieu thereof, which the person has so designated for such purposed of voting;

(4) Spouses – The spouse of any person referred to in clause (3)(a) or (b), if otherwise qualified as an elector, and otherwise ordinarily resident within the province, shall be entitled to have the spouse’s name entered in the Register and included on the list of electors for the polling division in which the name of the person referred to in clause (3)(a) or (b) may be entered and may vote in the polling division.

(5) Students attending institution in province – Where a person is a student at a recognized educational institution within the province and has a family in the province, the student is ordinarily a resident, at the option of the student,

  1. in the polling division where the student’s family home is located; or
  2. in the polling division where the student is living while attending the recognized educational institution.

(6) Students attending an institution outside province – A student who, on the date of the election, is in attendance at a recognized educational institution outside the province, and who is otherwise qualified as an elector and otherwise ordinarily resident within the province, is entitled to have the student’s name entered on the list of electors for the polling division in which the student ordinarily resides while within the province, and may vote in such polling division.

(7) Spouse of student – The spouse of any student referred to in subsection (6), if otherwise qualified as an elector and otherwise ordinarily resident within the province, shall be entitled to have the spouse’s name entered in the Register and included on the list of electors for the polling division on which the name of the student referred to in subsection (6) may be entered and may vote in such polling division.

(8) Incarcerated elector – The place of ordinary residence of an elector who is incarcerated is

  1. where the elector is in a provincial correctional institution or a youth custody facility, either district where the institution or facility is located or the place in the province to which the elector intends to return on release from custody; and
  2. where the elector is in a federal penitentiary, the place in the province to which the elector intends to return on release from custody.

(9) Normal residence October to May (repealed)

(10) Material facts determine residence – subject to this section, the question as to where a person is or was ordinarily resident at any material time or during any material period shall be determined by reference to all the facts of the case.

(11) Place of residence cannot be lost – a person can have only one place of ordinary residence and it cannot be lost until another is gained.

(12) Absence less than six months – A person does not cease to be ordinarily resident in the province by leaving the province for a definite purpose during a definite period of less than six months if the person intends to return to the province and ordinarily reside within the province after that period.

(13) Exception – Subsection (12) does not apply in respect of a student referred to in subsection (6).

 

 

 

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