Voting Information
How do I register to
vote?
Who is eligible to vote?
Can a person who is homeless
vote?
What happens on voting day?
Why should I vote?
How do I decide who to vote for?
Who do I call if I need help with
voting?
What are some of the
issues in the federal election?
How do
I register to vote?
In the upcoming federal election, you can register when you go to vote
or
before voting day through Elections Canada.
To register before voting day, you can contact Elections Canada by
telephone (below) or you can get more information about where to
register locally by calling or visiting your local Member of Parliament
(MP).
Elections Canada:
1 800 463-6868
toll-free in Canada and the United States
001 800 514-6868
toll-free in Mexico
(613) 993-2975
from anywhere in the world
For people who are deaf or hard of hearing:
TTY 1 800 361-8935
toll-free in Canada and the United States
Elections
Canada
website
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Who is
eligible to vote?
Canadian citizens who are 18 years old or older on polling day
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Can a
person who is homeless vote?
Yes, an elector who is homeless or without a fixed address can vote, if
she
registers on the voters list during an election. To register you need
identification such as driver's license, birth certificate, health care
card, Status card, B.C .ID and the address where you are staying.
The address of the local shelter will be accepted if you stayed there
sometime in the last 24 hours.
Without proof of address or identification you can still register on
election day by taking a prescribed oath as long as another voter who is
registered can vouch for you.
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What
happens on voting day?
The place you go to vote is called a polling station, there usually are
more
than one in each community.
The polling stations will be listed in the local newspaper.
If you are registered to vote you will need to take your voter
registration
card, if not your ID and proof of address.
The polls are open from 7:00 am - 7:00 pm.
You are entitled to 4 clear hours away from your job to vote - it's the
law.
Once at the polling station, there usually is a line up, the first
thing you
do is "check in".
Your name will be checked on the voter's list and you will be given a
"ballot".
A ballot is the paper you will mark your vote on, usually with a pencil
provided.
You will mark your ballot at a table that is screened off from view,
this
way your vote is private.
Do not make any other marks on the ballot other than your voting
mark. This will "spoil" your ballot and it will not count.
Lastly, your ballot is then taken and put in the ballot box, sometimes
it is
electronically counted by a machine first.
Congratulations you have successfully voted!
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Why
should I vote?
It is your right to vote.
Women before us fought a long fight so that women were given the right
to
vote.
It is your chance to have your voice heard on issues that affect your
life.
Because we do not want to leave it to others to decide who our
representatives are.
The past shows us that women's votes can make a difference in who gets
elected.
This is the one time that whether you are rich or poor every vote has
the
same weight.
EVERY VOTE COUNTS!
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How do
I decide who to vote for?
A person who is running to be elected is called a Candidate.
Most Candidates are members of a Political Party.
New Democrats (NDP) or Liberals are two examples of Political Parties in
Canada.
Read the local newspaper.
Attend All Candidates meetings.
Call a Candidate and ask them questions.
Talk with friends and neighbors.
Visit your local library and read about the different Parties.
Visit our Election Issues page for more places to find information!
Use our 20 Questions for Candidates to find out where they stand
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Who
do I call if I need help with voting?
You can call a Candidate's campaign office for a ride to the polls.
Watch in the local newspaper for any events going on to assist women
during the election.
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What
are some of the issues in the federal election?
university tuition fees
universal childcare
child poverty
environment
healthcare
social programs
low-income housing
visit our Election Issues page for more information on issues
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