VOTERS' GUIDE 2019: Where do I vote? and other federal election questions answered

Canadians go to the polls in the 2019 federal election Oct. 21.

Here’s what voters need to know about casting ballots.

Can I vote?

To vote, you must be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old on election day.

To check if you are registered on the electoral list, visit Election Canada’s online voter registration service at ereg.elections.ca or contact the federal agency by phone at 1‑800‑463‑6868.

If you are not registered, you can add yourself to the electoral list at the polls on election day or during advance polls. Find out where your returning office and polling locations are, as well as other information about your riding's candidates by clicking here. 

When can I vote?

• On election day — Oct. 21 —  at your local polling station from 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Newfoundland Time in N.L. and Atlantic Time in N.S., N.B. and P.E.I.

Check out the Elections Canada site. 

How do I prove my identity when I vote?

To confirm your identity at the polling station, you’ll have three options.

You can:

• Show one piece of identification — your driver’s licence or any other card issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial/territorial or local) that features your photo, name and address.
• Show two pieces of identification. These can include your voter information card, a bank statement, a utility bill or a student identification card.
• Or, if you don’t have identification, you can confirm your identity and address in writing and get someone else to vouch for you. The person must know you and be registered to vote in your polling station.

Where can I get more information?

Visit the Elections Canada website (elections.ca) or call the agency at 1-800-463-6868.

Three weeks before election day, Elections Canada sent personalized voter information cards in the mail to all registered voters. They include detailed information about when and where to vote.

What election changes are coming into effect this year?

Several changes are on tap this election, including these three:

1. Ballots have been redesigned to make them easier to read, Elections Canada says. New ballots are two inches wider than the old ones and font sizes have been increased. The background of ballots is now grey instead of black.
2. Advance polling hours were extended to cope with a growing interest in voting before election day. In the 2015 election, advance polls were open for eight hours (noon to 8 p.m.). In 2019, they were open 12 hours (from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
3. Voting booths will be set up at more post-secondary campuses — 115 in 2019, compared with 39 in 2015.

How does the electoral process in Canada work? 

Check out the video below that explains how elections work in this country: 

With files from Postmedia.