How to Register to Vote in Canada
Canadian citizens 18+ can register online with Elections Canada in about 10 minutes, or simply show up at a polling station with proof of address and register on the spot. Permanent residents and temporary residents cannot vote in federal elections.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official CAN sources(2025-Latest).
0 of 5 steps
- Before You Go 5 min
Confirm you are eligible
You can vote in federal elections if you are a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old on election day, and registered to vote at your current address. Permanent residents, work/study permit holders, and visitors cannot vote — even long-term residents.
Click to mark as done
- Fill / Prepare 10 min
Register or update your address online
Use the Elections Canada Online Voter Registration Service with your driver's licence number. You can check whether you are already registered, update your address after a move, or register for the first time. Changes made after an election is called may not take effect for that election.
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay
Watch for your voter information card
Once an election is called, registered voters receive a voter information card by mail within about a week. It tells you where and when to vote. Check the name and address on it — if anything is wrong, call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868 before election day.
Click to mark as done
- Go
Vote with the right ID
At the polling station you need one piece of government ID with your photo, name, and address (driver's licence is ideal), OR two other pieces where at least one shows your address, OR you can swear an oath while someone from your polling division vouches for you.
Click to mark as done
- Receive
Vote early if it suits you
Besides election day (always a Monday), you can vote at any advance poll (the Friday to Monday a week before), at an Elections Canada office any time after the writ drops, or by mail — apply for a special ballot kit by the Tuesday before election day and return it on time.
Click to mark as done
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
I just became a Canadian citizen. Can I vote?
Yes, from the moment you take the oath. Register online or at the polls with your citizenship certificate plus proof of address. New citizens are one of the groups most likely to be missing from the voters list, so registering ahead saves time on election day.
I moved and did not update my registration. Can I still vote?
Yes. Go to the polling station for your NEW address and register there with proof of address. You vote where you live on election day, not where you were registered — but updating online beforehand is faster.
Can I vote if I am abroad?
Yes — Canadian citizens living abroad can vote by special ballot in the riding where they last lived. Apply to Elections Canada for a mail-in kit as soon as an election is called; ballots must arrive back by election day, not just be postmarked.
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