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pop: Casting Your Vote

Casting Your Vote

The methods you can use to vote. >

pop: Who Is Eligible To Vote?

Vote Eligibility

The requirements for voting eligibility in Canada. >

pop: How Do I Register To Vote?

Register Vote

What you need in order to get on the voters list. >

pop: How Do I Vote From Overseas?

Overseas Vote

How to vote from almost anywhere in the world. >

pop:Military Personnel

Military Personnel

The special voting requirements for Canadian military personnel. >

pop: How Canadian Government Works

How Canadian Government Works

A look at the Canadian Parliamentary system. >

pop:Election Countdown

Federal procedures leading up to election day. >

pop:Handy Links

Election-related resources. >

There are three ways you can cast your vote.

On Election Day

Bring your voter information card with your correct name and address and, to the closest polling station.

If you don't have a voter information card, and you have not previously registered to vote, you can still register at the polling station on election day. But you will have to bring proper identification. This can be:

  • a document with your name, current address and signature (like a driver's licence); or
  • two documents: one with your name and signature (like a health card), and the other with your name and current address (like a phone bill or a hydro bill)

To register to vote you can also contact Elections Canada at: 1 800 463-6868 toll-free in Canada and the United States.

The voting hours by time zone are:

  • Newfoundland Time: 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Atlantic Time: 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Eastern Time: 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
  • Central Time*: 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Mountain Time*: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Pacific Time: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

*In Saskatchewan, when daylight saving time is in effect for the rest of the country, voting hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Central Time zone, and from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Mountain Time zone.

The Chief Electoral Officer may, if necessary, modify voting hours to coordinate the opening and closing times of polling stations in the various electoral districts of the same time zone. If an electoral district spans more than one time zone, the returning officer, with the prior approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, determines one local time for voting throughout the district, and publishes the hours in the Notice of Election.

Advance polls

If you are not able to vote on election day, you can vote earlier in an advance poll.

The voter information card tells you the dates and address for the advance polls in your area. You must still bring either your voter information card with your correct name and address, or proper identification.

By special ballot

You can also cast your vote by special ballot which can be obtained from your local Elections Canada office, from the Elections Canada Web site or by phoning Elections Canada.

But make sure you apply for it as early as possible since it will take time to send your completed ballot to Elections Canada by mail or to deliver it to the local Elections Canada office.

Source: Elections Canada