Federal elections decide which candidates will become Members of Parliament (MPs) and represent residents of their federal riding in the House of Commons. They determine which federal political party forms government and which party is the Official Opposition. Elections are managed by Elections Canada.
When are federal elections held in Canada?
The next federal election will be held on or before October 20, 2025.
The last federal election was held on September 20, 2021. Elections for the federal government in Canada are held on the third Monday in October in the fourth calendar year after the polling day of the previous election according to the fixed-date provisions of the Canada Elections Act.
Note: Bill C-65 proposes to postpone the date to October 27, 2025, to avoid conflicting with Diwali.
Confirm you are registered to vote
You must be registered with Elections Canada to vote in a federal election.
Register or update your voter information with the Online Voter Registration Service or at your assigned polling station during the election by proving your identity and address.
Elections
Who can vote in federal elections?
You are eligible to vote in federal elections in Canada if you are a:
- Canadian citizen, and
- 18 or older on election day, and
- prove your identity and address
How to vote
You are required to prove your identity and address to vote. If your name is on the voters’ list, you will be required to show identification that has your name and address. The options include:
- Show 1 original piece of photo id issued by a Canadian government, whether federal, provincial or local, or an agency of that government, that contains your photo, name and address
- Driver’s license
- Show 2 pieces of identification from a list authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. Both must have your name and one must also have your address (such as a health card and utility bill)
- Voter information card
- Canadian passport
- Birth certificate
- Health card
- Library card
- Social Insurance Number card
- Student card
- Employee card
- Credit card
- Debit card
- Personal cheque
- Address
- Bank statement
- Credit card statement
- Mortgage statement
- Utility bill
- Vouched for by someone who knows you and is assigned to your polling station and declare your identity and address in writing.
Voting methods
- Vote early by submitting a completed Application for Registration and Special Ballot in person at any local Elections Canada office across the country (until the Tuesday/6th day before election day). Staff will give you a special ballot voting kit and you can vote on the spot or submit it later.
- Vote by mail after an election is called by completing an Application for Registration and Special Ballot to receive special ballot voting kit by regular mail.
- Vote on advance polling days on the dates and location shown on your voter information card sent to you in the mail.
- Vote on election day in person from 9 AM to 9 PM (Eastern Time) at your assigned voting location based on your home address as shown on your voter information card sent to you in the mail.
Can I vote online in Canada’s federal elections?
No, Elections Canada does not offer online voting as a method of voting.
Who are you voting for?
Ontario is currently divided into 338 electoral districts. Residents of each federal riding are asked to vote for one candidate to become their Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons.
What are their responsibilities?
The job of elected Members of Parliament (MPs) represent your electoral district in the House of Commons and raise your questions, concerns, or issues about federal government responsibilities:
- Aboriginal Lands & Rights
- Citizenship and Immigration
- Criminal Law
- Competition
- Copyright
- Employment Insurance
- Foreign Policy
- Income Taxes
- Money and Banking (Bank of Canada)
- National Defence/Military
- National parks
- Telecommunications and broadcasting (internet, phones & TV)
- Trade and Commerce
- Canada Post Office
- Census
See: Member of Parliament (MP) job description
How to choose who to vote for?
Deciding who to vote for involves thoughtful consideration of your values and priorities as well as what’s important to your neighbours, community and fellow Canadians. Different people prioritize different qualities in a candidate.
Here is a general guide:
- Understand what the federal government is responsible for (see above) and the job of MPs
- Make a list of issues that are important to you, your community and Canada, for example:
- climate change
- immigration
- competition
- foreign policy
- Read parties’ platform, constitution, values and policies to see where they stand.
- Compare what each party says they will do to address each issue.
- Assess party leaders’ promises and views who will become the Prime Minister if their party forms government. The Prime Minister has additional authority and plays a significant role in the government’s priorities, policies and governance style (see: Minister mandate letters).
- How well will they represent you and your community? How well do they listen, understand and act on the needs of residents?
- interviews
- candidate debates
- responses to current issues
- Did the incumbent party deliver on their promises?
- Assess candidates’ platforms, promises and views
- How well do they engage, listen, understand and act on the needs of residents? Are they approachable?
- background
- education
- work experience
- community involvement and engagement
- candidate debates
- town halls
- donations to federal and provincial political parties and candidates
- Review incumbents’ past performance
- What did they actually do?
- How well did they engage, listen, understand and act on the needs of residents?
- roles in federal Parliament (Minister, opposition critic, committees)
- private member’s bills and motions introduced
- voting record
- Contact candidate(s) and ask them about issues they haven’t addressed.
Strategically voting for the candidate most likely to win against a candidate or party you strongly oppose may be worth considering.
Fact check using credible sources to verify claims made during campaigns.
- Watch for misleading or overly simplistic promises.
- Read the latest studies and reports from subject-matter experts to verify that promises will have the desired effects.
- Read analyses from non-partisan organizations or media outlets known for balanced reporting.
- Discuss your thoughts with family, friends, or colleagues to gain different perspectives.
Contact Elections Canada if you have questions about a federal election
Elections Canada can answer questions about the election, such as:
- whether or not you are eligible to vote
- how or where to vote
- how to apply for election jobs
- 1-800-463-6868
- TTY: 1-888-292-2312
- Fax: 1-888-524-1444
- Website
- 30 Victoria Street, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0M6
Who can run in federal elections?
The previous election’s nomination period began on May 1, 2022. The deadline to file a nomination to be a council or school trustee candidate was Friday, August 19, 2022 at 2PM.
See: How to run for municipal council in Ontario
Who can advertise in federal elections?
See: Third party advertisers in Ontario municipal elections
Election campaign signs
The Canada Elections Act does not regulate or prohibit displaying campaign signs outside a federal election period.
Municipal bylaws set the rules regarding the placement of municipal, provincial and federal election campaign lawn signs’:
- placement on public property
- placement on private property
- size
- height
- timing (eg. not before the Writ of Election is issued)
- removal (eg. within 3 days after the election)
A municipality’s by-law enforcement department is responsible for the enforcement of election sign bylaws.
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