Federal Elections

High yield

Voting eligibility, the ballot procedure, and majority vs. minority government.

Guide pages 30–35

When and where

Federal elections must be held on the third Monday in October every four years following the most recent general election.
The Prime Minister may ask the Governor General to call an earlier election.
Canada is divided into 308 electoral districts, also known as ridings or constituencies.
Each electoral district elects one MP, who sits in the House of Commons.
The candidate who receives the most votes becomes the MP — they do not need more than half.
Canadian citizens 18 or older may run in a federal election. They are called candidates.

You must be a Canadian citizen; and
at least 18 years old on voting day; and
on the voters' list.
Voters' lists are produced from the National Register of Electors by Elections Canada, a neutral agency of Parliament.
Once an election is called, Elections Canada mails a voter information card telling you when and where to vote.
You can be added to the voters' list at any time, including on election day.

1. You receive a voter information card confirming your name is on the voters' list.
2. If you do not get a card, call your local elections office or Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868.
3. If you cannot vote on election day, use the advance polls or a special ballot.
4. On election day, go to your polling station and bring your card plus proof of identity and address.
5. Mark an “X” in the circle next to the name of the candidate of your choice.
6. Your vote is secret — you mark your ballot behind a screen, then fold it and present it to the poll officials.
7. The poll official tears off the ballot number and gives the ballot back to you to deposit in the ballot box.
8. When the polls close every ballot is counted and the results are made public.

Canadian law secures the right to a secret ballot. No one can watch you vote and no one should look at how you voted.
You are not obliged to tell anyone how you voted — not family, not your employer, not a union representative.

The leader of the political party with the most seats in the House of Commons is invited by the Governor General to form the government, and becomes Prime Minister.
Majority government — the party in power holds at least half of the seats.
Minority government — the party in power holds less than half of the seats.
The Prime Minister chooses the ministers of the Crown, most from among MPs. Together they are the Cabinet.
The Cabinet prepares the budget and proposes most new laws.
A vote on a major issue such as the budget is a matter of confidence. If the government is defeated, the Prime Minister usually asks the Governor General to call an election.
The opposition party with the most members is the Official Opposition, or His/Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition.
The role of opposition parties is to peacefully oppose or try to improve government proposals.

Federal — MPs. Responsible for national defence, foreign policy, citizenship, criminal justice, international trade, Aboriginal affairs; immigration and agriculture are shared.
Provincial and territorial — MLAs/MNAs/MPPs/MHAs. Responsible for education, health care, natural resources, highways, property and civil rights; policing in Ontario and Quebec.
Municipal (local) — mayor or reeve, and councillors or aldermen. Responsible for snow removal, recycling, firefighting, emergency services, transportation and utilities, policing.
Municipal councils pass laws called by-laws that affect only the local community.
First Nations have band chiefs and councillors with major responsibilities on reserves, including housing and schools.