Voting season is about to kick off after Prime Minister Mark Carney called a snap federal election in Canada.
On Sunday, Governor General Mary Simon agreed with Carney’s request to dissolve parliament and call an election amid heightened tensions with the United States.
The election in Canada will take place on Monday, April 28. With Canadians heading to the polling stations soon, here are all of the ways you can vote.
Vote on election day in Canada
Canadians can vote on April 28 at their assigned polling station. You can register to vote in advance or at the polls.
One way to register in advance is by checking “yes” to the question in the Elections Canada section in your Canada Revenue Agency tax return.
The second way is to register online using the Online Voter Registration Service. You’ll be asked to include your name, address, date of birth, and gender. The site also allows you to check if you’re already registered and allows you to update your address.
Once registered, keep an eye out for your voter information card in the mail. The card will have information on when and where to vote.
Vote in advance
According to Elections Canada, advanced polling days include Friday, April 18; Saturday, April 19; Sunday, April 20; and Monday, April 21 at your assigned polling station.
Information on where you can find advance poll stations and operating hours will be available online and on your voter information card.
You can also vote early at any Elections Canada office across the country until Tuesday, April 22, at 6 p.m.
Those voting in advance by mail must apply by Tuesday, April 22 at 6 p.m. and return their special ballot by mail or in person at their local Elections Canada office before polls close on election day.
“Electors planning to return their special ballot by mail should plan ahead and make sure there is enough time to receive a voting kit and return their completed ballot to Elections Canada by the deadline indicated in their kit,” advised Elections Canada.
Other ways to vote
University students can go to a Vote on Campus office to submit their ballot, and Canadians who live in long-term care facilities will be able to vote there.
Canadians who need special assistance or face barriers to registering and voting should contact their local Elections Canada office.
The non-partisan agency says Canadians don’t need a voter information card to find out where to vote. They can go to elections.ca at any time and enter their postal code to see the location of the Elections Canada office in their riding and, once they are identified, their assigned polling stations.
To vote, you’ll need to show proof of identity and address. Acceptable forms of ID include a driver’s licence and a government-issued ID with a photo, name, and current address.
If you don’t have a driver’s licence or a government-issued ID, you must provide two pieces of ID, which can include health cards, bank statements, utility bills, or a student ID card. Elections Canada has a full list of accepted IDs.
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