How to register, where to go, and where to find your candidates
Illustration by Sona Eidnani.
The upcoming federal election has been called for April 28. For students in the midst of final assignments and finals, it may seem like another thing to stress about, or appear like a daunting prospect. Not to worry! The Martlet is here with a step-by-step guide on what to do to get ready.
Check Your Eligibility
It’s important to make sure that you’re registered to vote. To vote you must be a Canadian citizen, 18 years old on election day, and able to prove your identity and address. To check that you are registered, go to the Elections Canada website. Even if you’re pretty sure that you’re already registered, it’s important to double check your electoral district and candidates.
If you’ve recently moved addresses, it’s important to update that information. Elections Canada has an Online Voter Registration Service where you can do just that with a quick questionnaire. You can also call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868, or visit one of the various Elections Canada offices if you prefer to register in person. You can find where the closest office is on the Elections Canada website.
Ways to Vote
Once you’ve registered to vote, there are multiple ways to vote in this election.
First, Voting by Mail. The Online Voter Registration Service also allows you to sign up for voting by mail. If you do want to vote by mail, do note that this request will take up to 72 hours to be approved, and several more days for your kit to be mailed to you, so it’s important to register soon if you want to vote by mail. The deadline to apply is April 22 at 6p.m.
Additionally, you should plan for the time it requires your ballot to be received by Elections Canada in Ottawa on April 28 by 6p.m. ET. Any late ballots will not be counted. Voting by Mail is also available to Canadians living abroad, who should plan ahead as their kits may take even longer to arrive.
If you want to vote in person, you have a number of options. You can vote on the day of the election, during advance voting from April 18–21, or anytime before April 22 at any Elections Canada Office. On Election Day, the polls will be open from 7a.m.–7:00p.m. PST, 7:30a.m.– 7:30p.m. MT, 8:30a.m.–8:30p.m. CT, ADT, and NDT, and 9:30a.m.–9:30p.m. ET. If you are voting in advance, make sure to check the hours the polls will be open as they may be specific to individual locations.
Where to Vote
Once you’ve confirmed your registration, another important step is to find where you will be voting. This is different for every electoral district, which is not the same as your municipality. Many municipalities, like Victoria, are divided into multiple electoral districts, so it’s important to know which one you are eligible to vote in.
You can find where you can vote at Elections Canada’s Voter Information Service. Once there, you can find where to vote in person, both on Election Day and during Advance Voting. You can also find out your electoral district and view the candidates, which will include links to their websites if you wish to look into them more.
When voting, remember to bring at least one piece of ID, which can be 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.
If you don’t have these pieces of ID you can either show two pieces of ID that have your name and current address (examples of alternative IDs are listed on the Elections Canada Website on the page ID to Vote), or if you declare your identity and address in writing and have someone who knows you and who is assigned to your polling station to vouch for you. Your voucher must also be able to prove their identity and address.
Review and Plan
Take your time to research the candidates running in your electoral district. Stay informed on who the candidates are, and what they’ve done during their career.
Once you’ve decided on your candidate, plan which method of voting you wish to use. Choose the method that works best for you.
When voting, clearly mark the ballot for only one candidate — your vote can be declared invalid if the ballot is unclear or you’ve written your name on it.
This election is already gearing to be a contentious one. But by following this guide, you will be directly contributing to Canada’s future. And remember, voting is not only a right, but a responsibility.
