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Voter's ChecklistOpens in new window
A step-by-step guide on how to place your vote.
Ways to VoteOpens in new window
Review your voting options and decide what works for you.
Register to VoteOpens in new window
Check if you're registered or update your registration.
Voter Information CardOpens in new window
Haven't received your voter info card yet? Here's what you can do.
Federal Election 2025 Coverage
Where can I find the latest election news?
Visit CTVNews.ca's Election Hub for the latest updates and in-depth coverage.
Where do I get live results on election day?
View Federal Election 2025 live results on April 28 using our Election Hub.
Where can I watch coverage of this year's federal election?
Watch on CTV and CTVNews.ca beginning at 7 p.m. EDT on April 28.
Candidates, Parties & Platforms
Who are the leaders running in this year's federal election?
View our Federal Election 2025 Leader Profiles to learn more about the leaders of Canada's main political parties running in this year's election.
What is each party promising?
View our Federal Election 2025 Party Platform Tracker to find out where Canada's main political parties stand on topics like housing, health, tariffs and more.
Where can I find news from the campaign trail?
Check out our Election Hub for news from the campaign trail, including our Campaign for Canada series, local reporting, analysis and opinion, daily polling and more.
Election Notes & Fast Facts
When is this year's federal election?
The 2025 federal election will take place on April 28.
When was the last federal election to take place in Canada?
The previous federal election was held on Sept. 20, 2021.
Which party is currently in power in Canada?
The Liberal Party of Canada, led by Mark Carney, is currently in power with a minority government.
Elections Canada's Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Voting
- Can I vote in the election?
- Where do I vote?
- When are advance polls open?
- Can I vote before election day?
- I will be 18 years old on election day. Can I vote earlier?
- I'm a member of the Canadian Forces. How do I vote?
- I'm serving a prison sentence in Canada. Can I vote?
- Can I take a selfie with my completed ballot?
- I'm a Canadian living abroad. How do I vote?
- I'm homeless. How do I vote?
- I live in a retirement or long-term care facility. How can I vote?
- I live in a retirement or long-term care facility. How can I prove my identity and address?
- I am temporarily hospitalized in an acute care facility. How can I vote?
- How does Elections Canada accommodate electors who cannot vote using traditional voting options?
- At the last general election in my province, I was able to vote at any advance voting location. Can I vote at any advance polling station at the federal election?
- Changes to the ballot for the electoral district of Carleton (ON)
- When is the best time to vote to avoid lineups?
Registration
- Do I have to register to vote?
- Am I registered to vote?
- Who can register to vote?
- How do I register to vote?
- How do I update my voter information (e.g. name or address)?
- I recently moved. Can I still vote?
- I live in more than one place. Which address do I use to register?
- If I register online, what types of ID are accepted?
- What if I don't have a driver's licence or provincial/territorial ID card?
- Why do I have to indicate my gender when I register?
- What if I have safety or privacy concerns about changing my registration at the polls?
- I'm having trouble with the Online Voter Registration Service. What's going on?
- What is the National Register of Electors?
- Can I remove my name from the National Register of Electors and still vote?
- What is a voters list (list of electors)?
- Do you share voter information with anyone?
- My loved one passed away. How do I remove their name from the list of electors?
- If I use the Online Voter Registration Service on a public computer, should I take extra steps to protect my privacy?
ID to Vote
- How do I prove my identity and address when I go to vote?
- I'm a student. What ID do I need to vote?
- Can I use ID with a mailing address-PO box, rural route or general delivery?
- I have received my voter information card. Can I use it as ID to prove my address?
- My ID is expired. Will it be accepted?
- I have ID that is not on Elections Canada's list. Will it be accepted?
- My ID is not in English or French. Will it be accepted?
- I lost my original ID document. Can I show a copy?
- What happens if I use my preferred name at my polling station?
- Métis cards are in the list of accepted IDs for option two. Does that include cards issued by Métis associations and organizations other than the Governing Members of the Métis National Council?
Voter Information Card
- What is a voter information card?
- Why have I not received a voter information card?
- Can I use my voter information card as ID?
- Do I need a voter information card to vote?
- I received a voter information card with incorrect information. What should I do with it?
- I received a voter information card for someone who does not live at my address. What should I do with it?
- Why did I receive two voter information cards?
- Why is there a “Replacement Card” indication on my voter information card?
- I am registered. Why have I not received a voter information card yet?
- I changed my given name(s) and informed several agencies. Why is my voter information card showing my previous name?
- Why am I not assigned to the same polling station as others in my home or neighbourhood?
- Why did my deceased loved one receive a voter information card?
- I am not a Canadian citizen. What should I do if I received a voter information card?
- I am a Canadian citizen but will not be 18 years old on election day. Why did I receive a voter information card?
- Why does Elections Canada issue voter information cards that contain errors?
Voting by Mail
- I'm a Canadian living in Canada. Can I vote by mail?
- I'm a Canadian living abroad. Can I vote by mail?
- Why do I have to apply to vote by mail?
- I've submitted my application. What happens now?
- I applied to vote by mail. Why did I receive a voter information card?
- How can I check the status of my application?
- It has been 72 hours. I checked the status of my online application, but there is no update. What can I do?
- How do I vote by special ballot?
- Where do I return my completed ballot? What is the deadline?
- How do I return my completed special ballot?
- Can I check for mail delays that could impact my mail-in ballot?
- Can I track my ballot?
- How do I know that Elections Canada received my completed ballot?
- Can I request a replacement voting kit?
- What safeguards are in place to make voting by mail secure?
- I don't have a reliable internet connection. How can I apply to vote by mail?
- Why is there a gap between the number of special ballot voting kits issued and the number of special ballots returned?
Time Off to Vote
Polling Stations
- Is it okay to use an electronic device or mobile phone inside a polling place?
- May I share a photo of my marked ballot?
- What's the role of candidates' representatives? What are the rules about what they can and can't do?
- Are candidates' representatives allowed to handle my ID?
Moving a Polling Station
Counting & Results
- When will ballots be counted and how long will it take?
- What happens between the counting of the ballots and the reporting of final results?
- How and when are the ballots from election day and advance polls counted?
- How and when are special ballots counted?
- How do the results get reported?
- What happens if there are errors in reporting?
- Are political parties and candidates allowed to witness the count?
- When does a winner get announced?
- Does Elections Canada use automated ballot counting or vote tabulating machines?
- Why can't returning officers start verifying and counting special ballots as soon as they are received?
- Can any ballots be counted early to save time?
- Why do election results sometimes show a big increase in the number of votes all at once?
- What is the validation of results? How and when does it happen?
- What are official voting results? When are they published?
- What happens when the results are close? Are there recounts?
- Are there other ways to challenge the result of an election?
Other FAQs
- What is my riding?
- How many ridings are there in Canada?
- How do I make a complaint about a violation of the Canada Elections Act?
- How do I file a general complaint or give feedback on the conduct of a federal election?
- What organizations are involved in administering and enforcing the Canada Elections Act?
- Elections Canada sometimes shares information with other organizations. Which ones?
- Do you have educational resources for schools?
- How do I order educational resources?
- How does Elections Canada protect the personal information it collects?
- What is the difference between an elector and a voter?
- Who is responsible for the leaders' debates?
- Is it illegal to make false statements about a candidate running for election?
- Does Elections Canada monitor for false statements about candidates?
- How do I report or make a complaint about a perceived false statement about a candidate?