Voting in Canada's Federal Election

A federal election has been called and election day is Monday, April 28.

If you’re 18 years of age or older and a Canadian citizen, and you can prove your identity and address, you’re eligible to vote. You can check if you’re registered to vote on the Elections Canada website.

As a student, you vote using the address you consider home, or where you ordinarily live. For some, that will be where you live while at school; for others, that will be where you grew up or where you live when not at school. Either way, you need to have ID with that address to register and vote.

You can search for your riding and find a list of your local candidates on the Elections Canada website.

Most Canadians who are eligible to vote are already registered in the National Register of Electors. If you’re registered, you should get a voter information card in the mail that tells you where and when you can vote. You can check if you’re registered and register to vote through the Voter Registration Service on the Elections Canada website.

How do I vote?

If you are living away from the address you consider home, you can:

• On the Waterloo campus, vote early from April 13-16 through Vote on Campus. When you vote on campus, you will be voting by special ballot. Find out more about voting by special ballot. In Brantford, students can request a special ballot from the Elections Canada office in the Old City Hall building at 100 Wellington Street.
• Vote early at any Elections Canada office across the country, until the Tuesday before election day.
• Vote by mail (deadlines apply)
• You can travel to vote in person at advance or election day polls in the riding of your home address, if you’re able to make the trip.

If you are living at the address you consider home, you can:

• Vote on election day at your assigned polling station. Find your polling station through the Voter Information Service.
• Vote on advance polling days at your assigned polling station.

• On the Waterloo campus, vote early from April 13-16 through Vote on Campus. When you vote on campus, you will be voting by special ballot. Find out more about voting by special ballot. In Brantford, students can request a special ballot from the Elections Canada office in the Old City Hall building at 100 Wellington Street.
• Vote early at any Elections Canada office across the country, until the Tuesday before election day.
• Vote by mail (deadlines apply) 

What ID Do I Need to Vote?

You will need to show ID to vote.

You can show your driver’s license or any other card issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial/territorial or local) with your photo, name and current address.

Or, you can show two pieces of ID. Both must have your name and at least one must have your current address; for example, a voter information card and a student ID card.

If you don’t have ID, there is an option to have someone vouch for you. Learn more about ID to vote.

More information

Visit the Elections Canada website for more information.