Backgrounders

Elections Canada: General Information: Backgrounders

Voting in a Federal By-election Who can vote? You may vote in a by-election if you are a Canadian citizen at least 18 years old on election day, and your place of ordinary residence from the first day of the revision period until election day is in the electoral district where the by-election is taking place. The revision period normally begins on the fourth day after the by-election is called. How is voter registration carried out? Elections Canada produces the preliminary voters lists from information in the National Register of Electors. Shortly after the by-election is called, the returning officer for your electoral district sends a voter information card to each registered elector. If you do not receive this card, contact the returning office in your electoral district, or Elections Canada in Ottawa at the numbers given below. If you are not registered on the voters list, you can register during the revision period, which ends at 6:00 p.m. (local time) on the sixth day before election day. You can also register at the polling station during advance polls or on election day. To have your name added to the voters list, you will have to present proof of your identity and address. Acceptable identification is one valid official document showing your name, address and signature (such as a driver’s licence); or two valid official documents, one showing your name and address (such as a telephone or electricity bill), and one showing your name and signature (such as a health card or a library card). Where and when do I vote? The voter information card will tell you where and when you can vote, on election day or at an advance poll. Keep this card until you vote. What if I can’t get to a polling station? You can vote by special ballot if you can’t go to your polling station to vote (either on election day or at the advance polls) or for any other reason. To do so, you must register for the special ballot no later than 6:00 p.m. (local time) on the sixth day before polling day. If you are in your own electoral district, contact your returning office to register and obtain a special ballot voting kit. You must return your completed ballot to the returning office before the polls close in your electoral district on election day. If you are outside your electoral district, contact the returning office for any electoral district or Elections Canada in Ottawa. Your completed ballot must be received at Elections Canada by 6:00 p.m. (Ottawa time) on election day. If you are temporarily outside Canada, you can get a registration form for the special ballot by telephoning Elections Canada, downloading it from our Web site, or from any Canadian high commission, embassy or consular office. But you must act quickly – your completed ballot is due in Ottawa by 6:00 p.m. (Ottawa time) on election day. For more information, please contact: Elections Canada 257 Slater Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0M6 Telephone 1 800 463-6868 toll-free in Canada and the United States 001 800 514-6868 toll-free in Mexico (613) 993-2975 from anywhere in the world For people who are deaf or hard of hearing: TTY 1 800 361-8935 toll-free in Canada and the United States Fax (613) 954-8584 1 888 524-1444 toll-free in Canada and the United States This publication is available in alternative formats. February 2005