Here are all the ways you can vote in the upcoming federal election

You can vote in-person on election day, before election day, or by mail

Yorkregion.com
Aug. 20, 2021
Megan DeLaire

Just like that, Canada is weeks away from its 44th federal election. If you're a Canadian citizen who is 18 or older and registered to vote, you can make your voice heard Sept. 20.

You've most likely never voted in a federal election during a pandemic and might be wondering what your options are. To help you decide how to exercise your democratic right, here are all the different ways to cast your ballot this year.

VOTE ON ELECTION DAY

If you're registered to vote, you can vote on election day at your assigned polling station during polling hours. In Ontario, polling hours on election day run from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Canadians are entitled to three consecutive hours of paid time off to vote.

To know where to vote, check your voter card, which you should receive in the mail if you're registered to vote. Pay close attention to the location, because polling stations you may have used in the past could be closed this year due to the pandemic. If you haven't received a voter card or you are not yet registered, you can call Elections Canada to find out where to vote. You can register online to vote, or you can register at your local Elections Canada office once an election is called, or at your local polling station when you go to vote.

To vote on election day, you must bring proof of your identity and address. For a list of accepted forms of ID and proof of address, visit www.elections.ca.

VOTE AT YOUR ADVANCED POLL
Advanced polls are held on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday the week before election day. This year's advanced polling days are Sept. 10, 11, 12 and 13. The hours and address of your local polling station will be on the voter card you receive in the mail, though you can search for it on www.elections.ca as of Aug. 24, or call Elections Canada.

To vote at your advanced poll, you must be registered to vote and you must bring proof of your identity and address.

VOTE BY MAIL

Electors who live in Canada can apply to vote by mail after an election is called. Anyone who votes by mail or at an Elections Canada office uses what's called a special ballot. Once an election has been called, you can complete the 'Application for Registration and Special Ballot' form at any local Elections Canada office, or by calling Elections Canada.

Once the form is complete, send it, along with proof of identity and home address, back to Elections Canada by fax, by mail or in person at any local Elections Canada office. Elections Canada will then send you a special ballot voting kit by regular mail or, if you applied in-person, staff will hand you your kit. The kit explains how to mark your special ballot and mail it in.

Keep in mind, you must apply for a special ballot, your application must reach Elections Canada by 6 p.m. on the Tuesday before election day, and your marked ballot must reach Elections Canada by the election day deadline or it won't be counted.

Electors who live outside of Canada follow a different process. To learn more, visit www.elections.ca.

Vote at an Elections Canada office
After an election has been called, you can vote in person at any Elections Canada office until the sixth day before Election Day. Like voting by mail, this method involves a special ballot.

At the office, you must complete an 'Application for Registration and Special Ballot' form and show ID and proof of address. Staff will then give you a special ballot voting kit and the option to vote on the spot or come back later to submit your vote. After an election is called, you can find the address of Elections Canada offices at elections.ca or by calling elections Canada.