The federal election campaign is in full swing ahead of the big day on April 28.
Party leaders are criss-crossing the country, election signs are popping up on lawns and volunteers are primed to canvass neighbourhoods day and night.
With party platforms being fleshed out and conversation about the campaign percolating, here’s everything you need to know about voting early to skip the busy election day crowds.
How do I register to vote?
“Most” Canadians who are eligible to vote are already registered, according to Elections Canada. In order to be eligible to vote, you must be at least 18 years old on election day, be a Canadian citizen and be able to “prove your identity and address.”
Voters can also register when they go to vote, as long as they bring identification that can verify their current address and name.
Elections Canada says that voters should get a voter information card in the mail by April 11, which informs voters where and when they can vote.
Voter information cards also include voting eligibility requirements and instructions on how to correct incorrect names or addresses.
How do I find out who’s running in my riding?
Elections Canada operates the Voter Information Service portal, where voters can search for candidates in their electoral district by typing in their postal code or riding name.
Though candidates have announced their intention to run, several ridings have not yet formalized their full slate of candidates.
How do I vote by mail?
In order to vote by mail, you need to both be eligible and apply to Elections Canada. The deadline to apply to vote by mail is April 22 at 6 p.m.
Elections Canada recommends applying to vote by mail “as soon as possible” and that voters should consider the practice if “you know you will be outside your riding during advance or election day polls and prefer not to vote early at an Elections Canada office.”
When can I vote ahead of election day?
Advance polling stations will be open from April 18 to April 21, per Elections Canada, but you can also vote early at “any Elections Canada office across the country” until April 22 at 6 p.m. (Elections Canada operates a tool that voters can use to find the office nearest them.)
During the 2021 federal election, almost 6 million people voted at advance polls.
Where can I vote early?
You can use the Voter Information Service portal to find the polling station at which you can vote early.
In years past, voters have cast their ballots at schools, community centres, houses of worship and other “public buildings.”
What are the polls saying?
Mark Carney’s Liberals hold a narrow lead over Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives, according to the Star’s online projection tool as of Friday, but the political landscape in Canada has shifted rapidly since the calendar flipped to 2025 and the United States launched a trade war against Canada.
The New Democratic Party and the Bloc Québécois follow the two leading contenders, with the Green Party currently sitting in fifth place.
Polls could also shift in the aftermath of the federal leaders debates, which will take place in French on April 16 and in English on April 17.
