Voter registration & ID requirements
Lesson 3 of 7 in Civic Engagement Beyond the Citizenship Test · 22 minutes
Once you become a Canadian citizen, you can vote at every level — federal, provincial and municipal. Here's who can vote, how the voters' lists work, and what ID you need at the polling station.
What you'll learn
- Confirm your eligibility to vote at federal, provincial, and municipal levels
- Register on the National Register of Electors and your provincial voters' list
- Know exactly what ID to bring to a Canadian polling station
From the lesson
Voting in Canada is straightforward — once you're registered, with the right ID. The most common reason newcomer citizens miss their first vote is showing up at the wrong place with no ID and being turned away.
Eligibility, registration, and ID
Federal eligibility
To vote in Canadian federal elections you must be: (a) a Canadian citizen, (b) at least 18 years old on election day, and (c) able to prove your identity and address. Permanent residents — even longtime ones — cannot vote federally. When you become a citizen, you can be added to the federal voters' list automatically if you agreed to share your information on your citizenship application. If not, you can register online at…