Download infographic in PDF
This handbook contains all of the basic information on when, where and the ways to register and vote in the federal election. It also has specific information for electors with disabilities.
There are many products you can use to spread the word about the federal election. Examples include:
Return to footnote 1 Available in multiple languages and in braille, large print and Daisy.
Visit elections.ca to download resources or call 1-800-463-6868 or 1-800-361-8935 (TTY) to request printed copies.
In a federal election, Canadians vote to elect a member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the House of Commons. MPs debate and pass laws on Canadians' behalf.
One MP represents the people of one riding. There are currently 338 ridings in Canada.
Candidates can represent a political party, or they can be independent, meaning they have no association with a political party. After all the votes are counted for each riding, the political party with the most MPs in the House of Commons usually forms the government. The leader of that party becomes the prime minister of Canada.
To vote in a federal election, electors must be registered. Most Canadians who are eligible to vote are already registered, but they may not be if they've recently moved, recently become a Canadian citizen, or never voted before.
All registered electors will get a voter information card in the mail about two weeks before election day. It tells them where and when they can vote as well as the accessibility of their assigned polling station.
If someone isn't sure if they've received a voter information card, or if the information on the card is incorrect, their voter information may not be up to date. They can visit elections.ca to register or update their address, or call us at 1-800-463-6868 or 1-800-361-8935 (TTY). We'll tell them where and when they can vote, as well as the accessibility of their assigned polling station. We can also tell them about tools and services that may be useful to them, such as a transfer certificate if their assigned polling station does not meet their accessibility needs. They can also register or update their voter information when they go to vote.
To register or update their address online, electors can use the Online Voter Registration Service at elections.ca. If they register online, they may be asked for the number from:
To register in person, electors will need to bring accepted ID with them. After an election is called, they can register and vote in person at:
To find the addresses for these locations or view the list of accepted ID, visit elections.ca.
They may choose the voting option that works best for them.
Electors' assigned polling stations will be open for 12 hours (hours vary by time zone).
Electors' assigned advance polling stations will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday the week before election day.
Electors can go to any Elections Canada office by the Tuesday before election day, 6 p.m. They will vote using the special ballot process. After the election is called, electors may visit elections.ca or call us to find the office nearest them.
For information about the accessibility of any Elections Canada office, call us at 1-800-463-6868 or 1-800-361-8935 (TTY).
After the election has been called, electors living in Canada may apply to vote by mail. Deadlines apply. They can apply to vote by mail online or by contacting their local Elections Canada office. Once their application is accepted, Elections Canada will send them a special ballot voting kit in the mail. The deadline to apply to vote by mail is the Tuesday before election day, 6 p.m.
Electors should apply as soon as possible to allow enough time for their special ballot voting kit to reach them and for them to return their completed ballot to Elections Canada by election day, or it cannot be counted.
Eligible electors who live in a seniors' residence or long-term care facility may be able to vote at a mobile polling station in their residence.
Elections Canada offers mobile polling stations in most residences. If required, we transport the ballot box from room to room. Please contact your facility administrator to find out if mobile polling will be offered in your residence.
Elections Canada Vote on Campus offices will be open on participating campuses across the country for four days about two weeks before election day. Any eligible elector can vote at a Vote on Campus location.
Electors who are unable to read or unable to vote using the special ballot process because of a disability may, upon request, vote at home. Electors who request to vote at home must meet the criteria outlined in the Canada Elections Act, and all other voting options (including voting by mail) must have been considered beforehand.
Electors must contact the Elections Canada office in their riding to request this voting option.
Election workers are there to help. If an elector needs anything to make their voting experience easier, they can speak to an election worker when they go to vote. For example, they can:
Voting at an Elections Canada office is different than voting on election day or advance polling days. Here, electors will vote using the special ballot process.
When it's time to count the ballots, the election worker will remove all the unmarked inner envelopes from their signed outer envelopes. The election worker will then return only the unmarked inner envelopes to the ballot box and mix them up. This way, no ballot can be traced back to the person who cast it and their vote remains secret.
Most accessible tools and services are offered at Elections Canada offices. However, the list of candidates in braille is available only on election day. See the Accessibility tab for the complete list of tools and services.
Show one ID card issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial/territorial or local) with their photo, name and current address. For example: their driver's licence.
Show two pieces of ID. Both must have their name, and at least one must have their current address.
Examples:
There are other pieces of accepted ID. Check out the full list, available in multiple languages, at elections.ca. For other formats, such as large print, braille and Daisy, call us at 1-800-463-6868 or 1-800-361-8935 (TTY).
Electors can also use their voter information card as a proof of address if their name and address are spelled correctly on the card. They will still need to bring one other piece of ID with their name.
If an elector doesn't have ID documents, they can still vote if they declare their identity and address in writing and have someone who knows them and who is assigned to their polling station (likely living in the same neighbourhood) vouch for them.
The voucher must be able to prove their identity and address. A person can vouch for only one person (except in long-term care institutions).
We accept ID cards and documents issued in their original formats. We do not accept photocopies or scanned versions of documents that were not issued electronically. For documents issued electronically (such as e statements or e-invoices), we accept printouts or electors may show them on a mobile device.
We accept expired pieces of ID to prove identity. We also accept different pieces of ID from the same source if the documents serve different purposes. For example, we accept an invoice and a transcript from the same school.
For a piece of ID to be accepted, it must be issued with the elector's name and/or current address. They can't be added by hand unless they are added by the issuer of the document, like a residence administrator. For example, a current or expired Canadian passport may be used as a proof of identity (i.e. name) but not as a proof of address. This is because the passport holder writes their current address by hand in the passport.
Some electors may have difficulty proving their address. If they are living or receiving services at any of the following places, one option is to ask for a letter of confirmation of residence:
If an elector needs to use a letter of confirmation of residence, they should:
The elector will still need to show a second piece of ID with their name.
All electors are assigned to polling stations for election day and advance polling days. Once the election is called, electors can make sure their assigned polling stations meet their accessibility needs by:
Elections Canada also welcomes Video Relay Service (VRS) calls. Visit srvcanadavrs.ca to know more.
If an elector's assigned polling station doesn't meet their accessibility needs, or if they live in a community where there is no polling station within a reasonable distance from their home, they should call their local Elections Canada office or 1-800-361-8935 (TTY). We will help them find an alternate polling station or discuss other ways they may be able to vote.
For a full list of the accessibility criteria we use when we select polling stations, visit elections.ca.
To request voting assistance in advance, including language and sign language interpretation, electors are encouraged to call the Elections Canada office in their riding by the Tuesday before election day, 6 p.m. The number can be found:
Electors can also bring an interpreter to help them vote. Interpreters need to make a solemn declaration, may assist more than one elector, and do not have to be an eligible elector.
For all the official information on voting, electors may visit elections.ca. The website is fully accessible and has voting information in multiple languages, including American Sign Language and Quebec Sign Language. Electors can also order products in other formats, including large print, braille and Daisy.
We offer many tools and services to make voting in the federal election easier. If an elector requires assistance during the voting process, they can call Elections Canada, visit any Elections Canada office across the country, or speak to an election worker when they go to vote.
Note: Braille lists of candidates are only available on election day. Large print is available on advance polling days and on election day.
If an elector has trouble marking their ballot, they can bring someone to help them or ask an election worker for help. The helper must make a written declaration that they will respect the secrecy of the vote. The helper does not need to be an eligible elector. Electors do not need to use an "x" to mark their ballot. They can use any other mark, as long as it clearly indicates their choice and does not identify them in any way.
Electors are also welcome to bring help when they vote. This could include bringing their service animal or using an assistive device, such as a mobile device or smartphone.
We welcome electors' feedback on their voting experience, including our accessible tools and services. To let us know how we're doing, electors can:
Over 200,000 Canadians across the country are hired during an election. Jobs are paid and training is provided.
Learn more and apply online at elections.ca.