Federal elections and voting
When is the next federal election in Canada?
The next scheduled federal general election is October 15, 2029. An earlier election can be called. This nationwide schedule is separate from local federal by-elections and provincial or municipal elections. Reviewed November 3, 2026.
Where to begin
- Choose the election level: federal, provincial or territorial, or municipal.
- Check the current election notice and your voter registration with the responsible election authority.
- Use that election’s official lookup for your voting options, polling place, identification and deadlines.
Before you open the official service
- The election level and province or territory; include the city for a municipal election.
- Use your address or postal code directly in the official election service to identify the correct riding and voting location.
Check registration, identification and the current election’s voting arrangements with the official authority.
What to check for your situation
Dates, candidates and voting arrangements can change. A scheduled general-election date is not a guarantee that an earlier election will not be called. Past election locations and deadlines are not instructions for the next election.
Voting rules depend on the election level and location. Do not reuse a previous election’s deadlines or polling address.
Election and voting questions
Where can I vote?
For a federal election, use Elections Canada’s Voter Information Service. It identifies your riding and, partway through an election, your assigned advance and election-day polling places. A past polling location may change.
- Open the official lookup and enter your home postal code there, or use its place-name or riding search.
- Choose the current election in your riding and check the polling address, date and hours.
- Check the accepted identification before you go. If you need another voting method, use Elections Canada’s current instructions.
elections.ca · Official websiteElections Canada — find your riding and voting informationOfficial election information. Check the election level, event and current instructions at the destination.Checked
How do I register to vote?
For a federal election, check or update your registration with Elections Canada. If an election is underway in your riding, registration is also available at your local Elections Canada office or assigned polling place when you vote.
- Open the official voter registration service and check your current address.
- If you moved or cannot register online, use the alternatives listed by Elections Canada.
- Confirm the current election’s deadlines and bring accepted identification.
What ID do I need to vote?
Federal voting does not always require photo ID. You can use one accepted Canadian government-issued photo ID showing your name and current address, or two accepted IDs that both show your name, with at least one showing your current address. If you cannot meet those options, Elections Canada also describes a declaration and vouching route with conditions.
- Check the official accepted-ID list for the documents you have.
- A voter information card is helpful but is not required to vote; you still need to meet identification requirements.
Who can vote in a federal election?
You must be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 on election day to vote federally. Permanent residence alone does not qualify. You must also register and prove your identity and address under Elections Canada’s rules.
Can I vote online?
Elections Canada does not offer online voting in federal elections. Online voter registration is different from casting a ballot. Provincial, territorial and municipal voting methods must be checked separately.
Can I vote by mail or while away?
Federal voting by mail uses a special ballot. A Canadian resident who is temporarily away, even overseas, uses the Canadian-resident route. Someone who lives outside Canada uses the separate international-elector route. These are based on where you live, not just where you travel during the election. Application and ballot-return deadlines apply; once a special-ballot application is accepted, that is your voting method for that election.
- Choose the route for your residence: a Canadian resident temporarily away, or an elector who lives abroad.
- Follow that route’s current application, identification and ballot-return instructions. Do not reuse a previous election’s deadlines.
Can I vote before election day?
For a federal election, advance voting happens at your assigned advance polling station. Early voting at an Elections Canada office uses a special ballot and has its own cutoff. Check the current election’s dates and location before travelling.
Can I get help voting?
Elections Canada offers accessible voting tools and assistance. Check your assigned location’s accessibility and contact the election office if you need an alternative or a particular accommodation. Some arrangements require advance notice.
Who is running in my riding?
Use Elections Canada’s Voter Information Service and select your riding. The candidate list becomes available partway through an election. A current MP list is not a candidate list. I can help you find official information without choosing a candidate for you.
Where can I find election results?
Elections Canada’s Voter Information Service includes past election results by riding. Use the current election notice for new results and check whether the figures are preliminary or final.
Upcoming by-elections
Elections Canada also lists December 7, 2026 federal by-elections in six ridings: Brantford—Brant South, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, Scarborough North and Yorkton—Melville. These apply to eligible electors in those ridings, not everyone in Canada. Event checked November 3, 2026.
What is a federal by-election?
A federal by-election fills a vacant seat in one electoral district between general elections. It is separate from a nationwide general election, and only eligible electors for the affected riding vote in it.
Official sources
Prepared by Active K Digital from the linked public guidance. Read our source approach.