Federal Elections

Voting in Federal Elections

Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected to represent citizens in the House of Commons.

Federal elections are held on the third Monday in October every four years, but the Prime Minister can request an earlier election.

Canada has 308 electoral districts (ridings/constituencies), each represented by one MP.

To vote, you must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old, and on the voters' list.

Elections Canada manages federal elections using the National Register of Electors, a database of eligible voters.

Voters receive a voter information card with details about where and when to vote.

If you don’t receive a voter card, you can register or update your information on election day.

Voting can be done on election day, at advance polls, or via special ballot.

Your vote is secret. No one, including family or employers, can insist on knowing how you voted.

After voting, you mark an 'X' next to the name of your chosen candidate and place the ballot in the ballot box.

The leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons becomes the Prime Minister.

A majority government occurs when the ruling party holds at least half of the seats.

A minority government occurs when the ruling party holds less than half of the seats but has enough support to govern.

The opposition party with the most seats is known as the Official Opposition or Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition.

Opposition parties aim to improve or oppose government proposals peacefully.

The three major political parties currently are the Conservative Party, Liberal Party, and New Democratic Party (NDP).