How to Register to Vote in Canada

Completing Your Registration

Gather identification and proof of residency. Regardless of how you register to vote, you need proof of your identity and citizenship. At least one of the documents you submit must have your current address on it. Acceptable identification documents include: Driver's license or provincial/territorial ID card Other government-issued photo ID with your name and current address Health card Canadian passport Birth certificate Indian status card Métis card Library card Student identity cardTip: If you provide an identity document that is not a government-issued photo ID, you must also provide a document to prove your residency, such as a utility bill, insurance policy, or bank statement that shows your name and current address.

Register online at the Elections Canada website. Go to https://ereg.elections.ca/CWelcome.aspx and click the "Start" button to begin the registration process. You can also use this website to confirm your registration or update your registration information. If you have a Canadian driver's license or provincial/territorial ID card, you can enter the number on your online registration to confirm your identity. The card you use must have your current address on it. If you don't have a Canadian Driver's license or provincial/territorial ID card, you can use the Online Voter Registration Service to upload digital copies of your identification documents.

Call Elections Canada for a registration form if you can't register online. If you don't feel comfortable registering online or don't have reliable internet access, call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868. Lines are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time. Elections Canada will send you a paper registration form to fill out and return. You can either mail it back to the address on the form or turn it in at your local Elections Canada office.

Add your name to the Register of Future Electors if you're not yet 18. If you are 14 to 17, call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868 and let them know that you want to be added to the Register of Future Electors. When you turn 18, your information will automatically be added to the National Register of Electors so you don't have to register again. Elections Canada will send you a paper registration form in the mail if you call. You can also stop by your local Elections Canada office and pick up a registration form there. To register, you must provide a copy of your identification and proof of residency. If you provide a copy of your Canadian (federal, provincial, or local) government-issued photo ID that includes your current address, you only need one document. Otherwise, you'll need one identification document and one residency document (for example, a bank statement and a health card).

Maintaining Your Registration

Check "Yes" to the Elections Canada questions on your tax return. On your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) tax return, there are 2 questions related to Elections Canada. If you check "yes" for both of these questions, CRA will share information from your tax return with Elections Canada to keep your registration up to date. When it's time to vote, you'll get a voter registration card in the mail that tells you where and when to vote.Tip: If you're between the ages of 14 and 17 and not yet registered, checking these boxes will add you to the Register of Future Electors.

Fill out a voter registration form to update your information by mail. If you don't want to wait until you file your tax return, call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868 and request a voter registration form. Complete the form and provide identification exactly as you did when you initially registered to vote to update your address. If you changed your name, such as because you got married, you can use the same process to change your name. You can also pick up a voter registration form at your local Elections Canada office.

Update your information when you vote in a general election. If there's a general election and you haven't yet updated your address or other information, you can provide your new information at the polling place when you go to vote. You can also update your information in person at your local Elections Canada office.

Voting from Abroad

Confirm that you're eligible to vote in Canadian elections. Generally, any Canadians who live abroad can still vote in Canadian elections. However, you have to be able to prove that you're a Canadian citizen over the age of 18 and that you lived in Canada at some point in your life. Elections Canada will use the last address where you lived in Canada to determine the electoral district where your vote will be counted. It must be a physical address, not a post office box or rural route, and it can't be changed after you're added to the International Register.

Gather appropriate identification. To register on the International Register of Electors, you don't have to provide proof of your residency. However, you do have to provide proof that you are a Canadian citizen. Acceptable documents include: Pages 2 and 3 of your Canadian passport Your Canadian citizenship certificate or card Your Canadian birth certificate

Complete your application to vote by mail. Elections Canada prefers that you register online. You also have the option of downloading the form, printing it, and sending it to Elections Canada using the address or fax number on the form. The application requires you to provide information about your identity and citizenship, as well as your current address. To complete your application online, go to https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=vot&dir=reg/svr&document=page-b&lang=e and enter your information.Tip: Applicants for the International Register of Electors do not need to provide any proof of residency.

Wait for your confirmation letter. Expect it to take a few weeks for your registration to be processed. Once your name is on the International Register of Electors, Elections Canada will mail a confirmation letter to you at the address you provided on your application form. Whenever an election is called, Elections Canada will automatically send you a special ballot voting kit for you to complete and mail back. If your address changes, send an email to [email protected] and provide your updated address. You can also call 613-949-7502. Collect calls to this number are accepted.