Federal Elections

Ridings, the secret ballot, and what happens after election day.

How elections work

The fixed date is the third Monday of October, four years after the previous general election — but the Prime Minister can ask the Governor General for an earlier one.
Canada is divided into electoral districts, also called ridings or constituencies. Each elects one MP by the most votes.
The guide says 308 electoral districts; the number has since grown (see the Updates page).
Canadian citizens 18 or older may run as candidates.

You must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old on voting day, and on the voters’ list.
The voters’ lists come from the National Register of Electors, kept by Elections Canada, a neutral agency of Parliament.
A voter information card arrives by post with the time and place. Missing from the list? You can be added at any point, election day included.

Nobody may observe you marking the ballot, and nobody should see what you marked.
You may discuss how you voted, but no one — not family, employer or union representative — has the right to insist you tell them.
You mark an "X" in the circle next to your candidate’s name, fold the ballot, present it to the poll official who tears off the ballot number and returns it to you to place in the ballot box.
If you cannot vote on election day you may vote at advance polls or by special ballot.

Whoever leads the party holding the most seats is asked by the Governor General to form a government, and takes office as Prime Minister.
At least half the seats is a majority government; less than half is a minority government.
A vote on a major issue such as the budget is a matter of confidence. If the government loses it, the Prime Minister usually asks the Governor General to call an election.
The Prime Minister chooses the Cabinet ministers, most from among MPs. They run the federal departments, prepare the budget and propose most new laws.
The opposition party with the most MPs is the Official Opposition (His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition).

Federal — MPs. National defence, foreign policy, citizenship, criminal justice, international trade, Aboriginal affairs.
Provincial and territorial — MLAs/MNAs/MPPs/MHAs. Education, health care, natural resources, highways, property and civil rights.
Municipal (local) — mayor or reeve, councillors or aldermen. They pass by-laws covering urban planning, streets and roads, sanitation, snow removal, firefighting, ambulance and emergency services, recreation, public transit.
First Nations have band chiefs and councillors with major responsibilities on reserves, including housing and schools.