How to vote in the 2025 federal election

Canadians are heading to the polls today, Monday, April 28, for the 2025 federal election. Whether you’re voting for the first time or just need a refresher, here’s a guide to help you cast your ballot. Who can vote in the Canadian election? To be eligible to vote, you must be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old on election day. If you’re registered at your current address, you should have received a voter information card in the mail. This card includes your polling station’s address, hours of operation, accessibility information, and instructions on how to request assistance if needed. What if I don’t have a voter information card? If you didn’t receive this card, don’t worry — you can still vote. As long as you’re registered, you just need to prove your identity to the workers at your polling station. If you are registered but need to update your address, you can make the change in person at your polling station, provided you bring proper identification. Where do I go to vote? You can use the voter information service on the Elections Canada website to find out where to go. What if I’m not registered to vote in the 2025 election? Most Canadians who are eligible to vote are already registered in the National Register of Electors, according to Elections Canada. If you’re unsure whether you’re registered, you can check your status through Elections Canada’s online voter registration service . Even if you aren’t registered, you can register on the day of the election at your polling station. All you need to bring is identification that proves your identity and address. What ID should I bring to vote in the federal election? There are three ways to prove your identity when you go to vote. You can show a driver’s licence or any other government-issued ID that includes your photo, name and current address. If you don’t have that, you can bring two pieces of identification — both must show your name, and at least one must include your address. Your voter information card can count as one of the two pieces. Other accepted documents include student cards, utility bills, bank statements and credit cards. A complete list is available on the Elections Canada website . What if I forgot my ID? If you don’t have any ID, you can still vote by declaring your identity and address in writing and having someone vouch for you. That person must know you, be assigned to the same polling station, and be able to prove their own identity and address. One person can only vouch for one other person. Once you grab your ID and know where you’re going, you’re all set to vote. When you get to your polling station, election workers will guide you through the process and provide any necessary instructions. When can I vote, and when are the results announced? Voting hours vary across the country depending on the time zone, so the results come in around the same time. Polls open between 8:30 a.m. in Atlantic Canada, 7 a.m. ET and 9:30 a.m. PT. All polling stations are open for 12 hours. Your exact voting hours will be listed on your voter information card or can be found on Election Canada’s website . Once the polls close, results will begin to come in. Most Canadians will get a sense of the outcome later in the late evening, a few hours after the final polling stations close. National Post will have live results as well as live news and commentary . Follow along to find out who will be Canada’s next prime minister.