During a federal general election, Elections Canada offers all qualified electors (those who are 18 years of age on Election Day and Canadian citizens) a variety of options for casting their ballots before Election Day. These options provide electors with convenient choices that best suit their schedules. These voting options are described below.
Voting by Special Ballot at the Local Elections Canada Office
At the drop of the writ, and until October 15, 2019, electors can vote at their local Elections Canada office. The office is open every day: Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
In order to assist observant Jewish electors, additional staff will be deployed to work on non-Jewish holidays to support the anticipated higher volume of electors.
Voting by Special Ballot on Post-Secondary Campuses
- From Saturday, October 5, 2019 until Wednesday, October 9, 2019. Hours of service offering are Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday from 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Observant Jewish electors may attend on October 5, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; on October 6, 2019 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; on October 7, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and on October 8, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to sunset. These hours may vary slightly depending on the hours of operation of each post-secondary institution.
Voting by Mail
Once the election is called, electors can contact their local Elections Canada office to make arrangements to vote by mail. From the drop of the writ until October 15, 2019, they can pick up a special mail-in voting kit and return it up until October 21, 2019.
Voting at the Advance Polls
Elections Canada is planning to hold the advance polls on four days – from Friday, October 11, 2019 until Monday, October 14, 2019. The polls will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. each day.
Observant Jewish electors can vote on Friday, October 11, 2019 until sunset and on Sunday, October 13, 2019 until around sunset. Additional polling staff will be scheduled to work at the advance polls on non-Jewish holidays to accommodate the anticipated increase in electors.
The voting process at both the local Elections Canada office and the advance polls has been simplified and streamlined to make it more efficient and to minimize the time it takes to cast a ballot. One agent can now add or update information on the list of electors and register electors to vote by special ballot. We expect that the time needed to vote at the local Elections Canada office will be cut in half as a result of this streamlined service.
Voting in Acute Care Hospitals
During an election, electors admitted to an acute care facility may find themselves unable to vote at an advance poll, on Election Day or by special ballot at their local Elections Canada office. To help these electors cast their ballot, Elections Canada has developed an acute care voting initiative.
Registration and voting for acute care electors will occur on Sunday, October 13, 2019; Monday, October 14, 2019; and/or Tuesday, October 15, 2019.
To accommodate Jewish electors who have been admitted to an acute care facility, service agents will be assisting electors on Sunday, October 13, 2019, until sunset.
For more information, please visit www.elections.ca or contact Elections Canada toll-free in Canada and the United States at 1-800-463-6868. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing toll-free in Canada and the United States TTY 1-800-361-8935.
