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A Guide to Voting in the Canadian Federal Election

As a Canadian citizen, you can vote in the federal election. During a federal election, the Prime Minister of Canada is elected, but you don't vote for them directly.

In a federal election, unlike other political systems, you indirectly vote for the prime minister by voting for your local Member of Parliament (MP). Local MPs belong to a political party. When you vote for them, you also support the leader of that party at the federal level. The leader of the political party that gets the most seats or MPs elected across the country becomes the prime minister of Canada.

Each MP is considered one seat and will represent their party in different geographic areas of the country. MPs represent the concerns of citizens in the House of Commons which has 343 seats. The province of Ontario has the largest seat representation, with 122 MPs.

You can read more about Canada's electoral system in our What is Canada's political system? article.

Who can vote?

To vote in a Canadian federal election, you must be:

a Canadian citizen (temporary and permanent residents cannot vote)
18 years old or older on election day
a resident in the electoral district
registered on the Voters List (also called the list of electors)

You can only vote one time per election. If you meet the first three requirements but are not on the Voters List, add your name to the list using the Online Voter Registration Service or by handing in a Registration Certificate at your local polling station or Elections Canada office.

What are the different ways to vote?

Vote On Election Day - on Monday, April 28, 2025
You can vote in person at a polling station on the day of the election. Check your voter card for your voting district or “riding,” or use the Voter Information Service tool to find your polling station with your postal code and location information.

Vote on Advance Polling Days - from Friday, April 18 to Monday, April 21, 2025.
Once a federal election is called, the dates and designated polling stations are posted on the Elections Canada website.

Vote Early at any Elections Canada Office - by Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
You can vote early at any of the 500 Elections Canada offices across the country. Check the dates and office times on the Elections Canada website.

Vote by Mail - by April 22, 2025
To vote by mail you will need to vote by "special ballot" and there are three ways to vote:

Apply Online
Apply at your local Elections Canada Office
Apply by calling 1-800-463-6868 or 1-800-361-8935 (TTY)

You may register to vote by special ballot if your primary residence is in Canada but expect to be outside your electoral district on election day. Outside the electoral district can include either within Canada or elsewhere.
Once you register to vote by special ballot, this is the only way you can vote. You cannot vote in person or at advance polls.

Watch the videos to learn more about voting by mail:

Vote Other Ways
Some people are eligible to vote using other methods; for example, if you have difficulty leaving your home to get to a polling station, you can apply to vote at home.Visit elections.ca or call 1-800-463-6868 or 1-800-361-8935 (TTY)

Can I take time off work to vote?

By law, you can take up to three consecutive hours off work to vote. If you can vote outside of work hours during polling hours, your employer does not need to give you additional time for voting. However, if you do not have this time available, you must request it from your employer.

Your employer must give you time off with pay, but your employer can still choose when to give you the time off.

How do I vote if I have accessibility needs?

Elections Canada has services to ensure all voters have equal access at voting time. For example, you can ask for a sign-language interpreter or an interpreter for another language. You can also request to vote at home if you cannot go to a polling station or mark your ballot due to a disability.

Other voting assistant tools available on request include:

bigger ballots with larger print
magnifiers with light
a tactile and braille voting template
large-print and braille lists of candidates (only available on advance polling days and on election day.)
language or sign language interpretation (must be requested ahead of time)

For accessibility accommodations visit the Accessible Voting page or you can call 1-800-463-6868 or 1-800-361-8935 (TTY) to ensure your assigned polling station meets your needs.

How do I know if I am on the voters’ list?

Once an election is announced, Elections Canada will send you a Voter Information Card a few weeks before the election if your name is on the voters’ list. Elections Canada creates lists of voters using information from the National Register of Electors.

The National Register of Electors is a database of qualified Canadians who can vote. The card will say you are registered, where and when to vote. It also has information about the date and location of advance polls.

Take this card with you when you go to vote.

What if I get a Voter Information Card mailed to my home for a family member who isn't eligible to vote?

Elections Canada receives data from different sources to compile their voter lists; errors can happen sometimes.

If you receive a voter card:

for a family member who lives at your address that is not a Canadian citizen
for someone deceased
for a person who doesn't live at your address
with errors

To report the error or to be removed from the list, call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868. Voting under false information is illegal, and you could be subject to penalties if you do.

What should I bring with me when I go vote?

You must prove your identity and address to vote. You have three options:

Show your driver’s licence or any other card issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial/territorial or local) with your photo, name and current address.
Show two pieces of ID. Both must have your name, and at least one must have your current address. Your Voter Information Card counts as a valid piece of ID. You can show it together with a bank statement or utility bill, for example.
If you don’t have an ID, you can declare your identity and address in writing, and someone who knows you and is assigned to your polling station can vouch for you. They must prove their identity and address and can vouch for only one person.

How do I vote if I do not get a Voter Information Card?

If you are not on the National Register of Electors and did not receive a Voter Information Card and want to add your name to the list, you must fill out a Registration Certificate. You can do this in person at the polls and by completing it online, printing it out and bringing it with you when you vote. Once your returning officer authorizes the certificate and you prove your identity and address using one of the options described above, you can vote.

For More Information

Elections Canada - The official site for federal elections in Canada. Use this site to find your electoral riding and answers to frequently asked questions about voting in Canada.
Voter Information Guide - This Elections Canada guide is available in more than 30 languages.
Election Words To Know - Elections Canada has compiled a glossary of electoral terms and pictures.