When is Election Day for the Federal Election?
The federal election is coming up on Monday, April 28, 2025!
I moved recently / I’m a new voter / I’m not sure if I’m registered. How can I find out if I’m on the voter’s list?
You can check to see if you are on the voters list, update your address, register to vote, or apply to vote by mail here: https://ereg.elections.ca/en/ereg/index or call Elections Canada Headquarters at 1-800-463-6868. The deadline to register ahead of the election, to update your address, or to apply to vote by mail is April 22, 6 pm (your local time.)
If you miss the deadline to register to vote ahead of time, you can register on the spot on Election Day at the polling location associated with your address. You can find out where that polling station is by inputting your postal code at Elections Canada’s website here.
Elections Canada has the most up to date information about how and where to vote: https://www.elections.ca/home.aspx
Note: All of Elections Canada’s websites are in French as well as in English. We are linking to the English websites, but you can switch them to French by clicking the word “Français” at the top of the Elections Canada page.
What type of ID do I need to prove that I am eligible to vote?
Photo ID is not required to vote, but you do need to provide proof of identity and address to vote. You can also be “vouched” for if you do not have any ID. Note: This option was not offered in February’s provincial election, but it is an option offered in federal elections.
Here are the ID options for voting in a federal election:
One piece of ID: Either your Driver’s license OR any other card issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial/territorial or local) with your photo, name and current address.
OR
Two pieces of ID: There is a long list of acceptable pieces of ID you can use, but both must have your name and at least one must have your current address. Check out the Elections Canada website for the list of acceptable ID.
OR
No ID: You can still vote if you declare your identity and address in writing and someone who knows you and who is also voting at your polling station, vouches for you. The person who is vouching for you must be able to prove their identity and address. A person can only vouch for one other person (except in long-term care facilities). For example, anyone who lives with you (roommate, sibling, spouse,) or a neighbour, or a friend who lives close by, could vouch for you as long as they have valid voter ID and are also voting at the same location as you.
Other Important Things to Know about ID Requirements:
You can use expired ID as long as your name and address is still accurate. The ID you choose to use must be in its original format – for example, a photocopy of a passport will not be accepted, but a bill or bank statement that was only issued electronically (eg. an “e-statement” or “e-invoice”) will be accepted either as a print-out or through being shown on a mobile device.
According to Elections Canada’s website, photo ID is not required to vote because there are other ways to prove your identity. If you choose to provide photo ID, your appearance does not need to match the photo. You do not need to provide any information about your sex or gender expression when you go to vote,
If you use a different name than the name on your ID or the name registered to you on the voter’s list, Elections Canada’s website says the following: “Introduce yourself with your preferred name at the polling station. To vote, you must show ID accepted by Elections Canada to prove your identity and address, and you must be registered (or register at the polls) under the name and address shown on this ID. If your preferred name is different from the name in your voter information and on your ID, a poll worker may ask you to make a declaration. If you or the poll worker have any concerns, you can ask the election officer who manages the polling station for assistance.”
Note: You may be asked to do a declaration by an Elections Canada worker when you experience any of the above scenarios (eg. your ID doesn’t match your name on the list, you’re getting someone to vouch for you, you need support with the physical act of voting, etc.) This is normal. The purpose of a declaration is for you to legally confirm that you are being truthful.
If you have more questions, check out Elections Canada’s website for Frequently Asked Questions, which include questions about ID, voting by mail, voter registration, etc.: https://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=faq&lang=e
I can’t get to the polls to vote on Election Day but I still want to vote. Do I have other options?
YES!
You can vote between now and April 22, 6 pm (your local time) at any Elections Canada office. Check the local hours of the office nearest to you, and the list of acceptable ID before you go.
You can vote in advanced polls on April 18, 19, 20, and 21, from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. Your advance poll location may be different from your Election Day poll location. Enter your postal code and address at Elections Canada’s website here to find this information.
You can vote by mail. You can apply online to do this, but apply as soon as possible. The cut-off date for applying to vote by mail is April 22, and it may take some time for Elections Canada to approve your request and send you your voter kit in the mail.
Once you apply and are approved to vote by mail, you cannot change your mind and go and vote on Election Day at your regular polling place. Once you complete your voter kit, you have to mail it back for it to be properly counted. More details on Elections Canada’s website here: Voting by mail – Elections Canada
There may be other ways to vote depending on your situation (eg. If you live in a remote Indigenous community, if you are a student, etc.) Check out Elections Canada’s website here and scroll to the bottom to see if there are other options for you: Ways to vote – Elections Canada.
Elections Canada has more detailed information for voters with disabilities here, including information on accessibility of polling locations, the provision of ASL and other interpretation options, and other important info.
I’m currently homeless / couch-surfing / staying at a shelter. Can I still vote?
YES!
If you have no fixed address, you can vote in the federal election. However, you still have to prove your identity and address.
The ID requirements are the same for everyone – either one piece of ID, two pieces of ID as listed here, or being vouched for by someone who knows you, has valid ID, and is voting at the same polling station as you are. Note: People who “vouch” can only do so once, except in long-term care facilities.
In terms of providing an address, food banks and shelters can offer houseless people a “Letter of Confirmation of Residence” which the organization must fill out. This letter needs to have the voter’s name on it, and be signed by the administrator of the organization which is filling it out. The voter also needs to vote at the poll that corresponds to the organization’s postal code.
The “Letter of Confirmation of Residence” form can be downloaded here: https://www.elections.ca/id/EC50053_e.pdf
Examples of organizations which are authorized to fill out these letters are: shelters, food banks/“soup kitchens”, and community-based residential facilities. Elections Canada has a List of Designated Establishments (EC 50054) but it has not been released publicly at this time.
If you are wondering if an organization that provides you with a service is authorized to fill out the “Letter of Confirmation of Residence” for you, call or have the organization that provides the service call Elections Canada Headquarters at 1-800-463-6868 and ask.
The information in this specific section was taken directly from Elections Canada’s FAQ website here.
Why should I vote in the federal election?
Voting is one of many different actions you can take in order to advocate for the things you care about, and to help change the conditions under which we all live.
The Federal government makes many decisions that may not be easily seen in every day life, but which can have major impacts on your income, especially if you receive temporary or permanent government benefits.
For example, the federal government decides if you can access Employment Insurance (EI) if you get laid off from your job; how much you receive from EI if you are eligible; and the length of time that you can receive EI, among other things. They also set the federal minimum wage for federally regulated industries, like transportation and aviation.
The federal government also make decisions about whether or not you are eligible to receive federal benefits and credits. These include the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), the Canada Pension Plan-Disability (CPP-D), the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for low-income seniors, the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) which is currently the only gateway to accessing the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), and several others. They also decide the amounts you will receive through these benefits and credits, as well as whether or not the amounts you receive are defined as “exempt” or “non-exempt” income, which can impact your provincial social assistance amounts.
The federal government also manages immigration programs and make decisions about citizenship and permanent residency applications, temporary worker programs, family visa programs, refugee applications, and other immigration status-related issues, all of which can have huge impacts on you and your family. Even though healthcare provision is a provincial issue and not typically a federal one, provinces may use immigration status to decide whether or not an individual has regular access to preventative and ongoing healthcare. This can have extreme impacts on individuals, their families, and everyone in Ontario.
Among other things, the federal government is also responsible for:
- Nation-to-Nation relationships with First Nations, and relationships with Inuit and Métis leadership and individuals, including meeting financial obligations and commitments called for by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s Calls to Action, and the Calls for Justice made by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls;
- Decisions about the tax system and federal benefit programs delivered through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and included under the Income Tax Act such as the CCB;
- Tribunals and judicial boards like the Social Security Tribunal (SST) which interpret the law and make rulings about disputes such as CPP-D appeals;
- Providing funding to provinces and territories for healthcare and social programs through the Canada Health Transfer and the Canada Social Transfer;
- Funding housing initiatives and benefits such as the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) and the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB);
- Developing nation-wide strategies and delivering funding to end poverty and homelessness.
These issues seem very big, but they all have local impacts on your ability to maintain your income, access well-funded public services, access housing, etc.
You can use election campaign time to get political candidates to talk about the poverty-related issues that you care about, and get commitments from them that you can follow up on after the election.
Who should I vote for?
ISAC is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization, and we are not registered lobbyists. We are not in the business of telling anyone who to vote for. We are in the “business” of protecting and expanding the rights of people living on low incomes in Ontario.
We believe it is the responsibility of every political representative, regardless of what party they belong to, to advocate for changes to the law and to ensure funding for the federal social safety net, better access to and funding for federal benefits, improved public infrastructure, and accessible social programs that will improve the lives of people living on low incomes in Ontario.
You can find out more about the four major political parties in Canada and their platforms through their websites:
Green Party of Canada: https://www.greenparty.ca/
Liberal Party of Canada: https://liberal.ca/
New Democratic Party: https://www.ndp.ca/
Conservative Party of Canada: https://www.conservative.ca/
You can also find a full list of all registered federal political parties here.
In order to find out more about what each political party is saying, you can read articles, listen to news and podcasts about what the different political parties are proposing, and attend All-Candidates meetings in your area.
Local all-candidates meetings are usually organized and promoted by community groups, food banks, and other local organizations in your area. You can also check the information boards at your local library and community centre. All-candidate meetings are often held and promoted in public places.
You can also call your local candidates offices and ask to speak directly with them!
During the election period, before you vote, you should:
- Ask all of your local political candidates where they stand on your issue.
- Talk to your local political candidates about how harmful policies are impacting you, your loved ones, or you community.
- Write to your local news outlets about why the issues you care about are important.
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