ElectoFacts

The facts are: We cannot count special ballots that are never sent back to us or are returned after election day. This is clearly stated in the Canada Elections Act.

By law, we cannot even open the envelopes that contain the special ballots that come in after the deadlines set in the Act. We must keep the envelopes, unopened, for 10 years after the election.

The data on special ballots can be difficult to navigate. Here are accurate numbers for the 44th general election:

• More than 1 million special ballots were issued to electors who were inside their riding (electoral district) during the election. Of these ballots, 883,000 (87 percent) were returned in time and counted.  
• More than 200,000 special ballots were issued to electors who were living in Canada but were outside their riding during the election, including many electors serving in the Canadian Armed Forces electors and incarcerated electors. Of these ballots, almost 159,000 (78 percent) were returned in time and counted.  
• Around 55,000 special ballots were issued to electors who were living outside Canada during the election. Of these ballots, more than 27,000 (48.5 percent) were returned in time and counted.  

Visit Elections Canada's website for a more detailed breakdown of special ballot data, including by riding, for the 2021 federal election.

You can also read Elections Canada's full Special Ballot Report.

A ballot that can be returned by mail is called a special ballot. Voting by special ballot is different from voting with the regular ballot that you may be used to seeing when you vote at a polling station.

When an elector applies to vote by special ballot, they must show or provide copies of their ID. Elections Canada reviews the application and the ID. Once the application is approved, the elector is given a special ballot voting kit. The kit may be handed to the elector, if they applied in person at a local Elections Canada office, or it may be sent to them via Canada Post or courier.

The voting kit includes:

• a special ballot with a space where the elector writes the name of their chosen candidate
• two envelopes: an inner envelope and an outer envelope
• instructions on how to fill out the special ballot and use the envelope system
• a postage-paid return envelope, if the elector wants to return their special ballot by mail

To return their completed ballot, the elector must place it in the inner envelope and seal the envelope. The inner envelope, often called a "secrecy envelope," is blank; it has no markings that could be used to identify the elector. The elector then places the inner envelope in the larger outer envelope and seals it. The outer envelope has the elector's name, electoral district (riding) code, a unique number or barcode and a declaration that the elector must sign. By signing the declaration, the elector affirms that they are eligible to vote (i.e. at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen), have not already voted and will not vote again in the election.
Here are the steps that Elections Canada takes when counting each special ballot:

1. We check that the unique identifier on the outer envelope matches the one on the elector's approved application.
2. We check that the elector's name and electoral district code on the outer envelope match those on the application form.
3. We check that the elector has signed the declaration on the outer envelope and has returned only one ballot.

Only after the above steps are taken can the ballot be counted. If any of these checks fails, the outer envelope is set aside, unopened.

Elections Canada has lists of electors, which we use at the polls on advance polling days and election day. The lists show which electors have requested a special ballot or have already voted at their assigned polling station.  

After the election, we review the lists of electors and our records of returned special ballots. If there are any possible cases of a person voting or attempting to vote more than once, we refer the matter to the Commissioner of Canada Elections. The Commissioner enforces the Canada Elections Act and investigates potential contraventions. 

Learn more: Voting Safeguards

The results are recorded on a paper document, called the Statement of the Vote. A copy is given to the candidates or their representatives who are present. The totals on the Statement of the Vote are then entered into Elections Canada's results aggregation and reporting system. This system, which is housed on a secure network based in Canada, allows us to post the results on our website and provide them to media outlets in near real time.  

A few days after election night, each returning officer (RO) validates the results for their riding (electoral district). The RO compares the totals entered into the results aggregation and reporting system for each polling station with those recorded on the paper Statement of the Vote on election night. If the RO finds that the totals in the results aggregation and reporting system don't match those on the Statement of the Vote, the RO corrects the error in the system.

This validation is done in front of candidates or their representatives. Once the results have been confirmed, the RO issues a certificate that shows the number of votes for each candidate in the riding and gives it to the Chief Electoral Officer. The RO also sends copies to the candidates or their representatives. Elections Canada publishes the validated results on our website as we receive them.  

 It is important to know that electors, including candidates, can request a judicial recount of the votes. A judicial recount is a formal way of verifying the count of the votes cast in a particular riding. You can learn more about this process in the Judicial Recount Handbook.

Recounts are presided over by a judge of the superior court who sits in the electoral district in the province or territory where the election results are being validated. Upon application by an elector, a judicial recount can occur if there is credible evidence that:

• an election officer incorrectly counted or rejected ballots
• an election officer wrote an incorrect number of votes cast for a candidate on the Statement of the Vote, or
• the RO incorrectly added up the totals recorded on statements of the vote

All other concerns about the regularity of an election are addressed through the contested election process. After a person is declared elected, any elector who was eligible to vote in the riding, or any candidate in the riding, may bring an application for a contested election before a judge, either in a provincial superior court or in the Federal Court.

Learn more: Results, Validation, Recounts, and Contested Elections: What Happens After Voting in a Federal Election

It is also important to know that ballots are stored securely for 10 years after an election. This means that if there is an investigation by the Commissioner of Canada Elections, the number of ballots cast during an election can still be verified.  

Once an elector's Application for Registration and Special Ballot has been approved, the elector is issued a special ballot voting kit. This kit includes:

• a special ballot with a space where the elector writes the name of their chosen candidate
• two envelopes: an inner envelope and an outer envelope
• instructions on how to fill out the special ballot and use the envelope system
• a postage-paid return envelope, if the elector wants to return their special ballot by mail

To return their completed ballot, the elector must place it in the inner envelope and seal the envelope. The inner envelope, often called a "secrecy envelope," is blank: it has no markings that could be used to identify the elector. The elector then places the inner envelope in the larger outer envelope and seals it. The outer envelope has the elector's name, electoral district (riding) code, a unique number or barcode and a declaration that the elector must sign. By signing the declaration, the elector affirms that they are eligible to vote (i.e. at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen), have not already voted and will not vote again in the election.
When counting special ballots, more steps are required than when counting regular ballots. Every special ballot must be verified, and it is important to prioritize accuracy and transparency over speed.

Here are the steps that Elections Canada takes when counting each special ballot:  

• We check that the unique identifier on the outer envelope matches the one on the elector's approved application.
• We check that the elector's name and electoral district code on the outer envelope match those on the application form.
• We check that the elector has signed the declaration on the outer envelope and that the elector has returned only one ballot.

Only after the above steps are taken can the ballot be counted. If any of these checks fails, the outer envelope is set aside, unopened.

Learn more: Voting Safeguards 

If there are high volumes of special ballots or logistical problems, it might take longer to complete the count and report results in some ridings. For example, a power outage could cause delays in transmitting the results. In the 2021 general election, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant increase in the number of electors who chose to vote by special ballot, which resulted in delays in the counting of special ballots.

As with regular ballots, special ballots are counted in front of observers. 

Learn more: Safeguards for Counting Votes and Reporting on Results – Elections Canada

For election day and advance polls, results are reported for each ballot box. Once all the votes in a ballot box have been counted, the totals are entered into Elections Canada's results aggregation and reporting system and are released in near real time.

Special ballots, by contrast, are counted in waves. This means that the results are entered into our results aggregation and reporting system in batches of variable sizes on election night—and on the following days if the count of special ballots cannot be completed on election night. These entries may create sudden jumps in the votes cast for one candidate or another.

The results of votes cast by special ballot are reported under two categories: Group 1 and Group 2. The results for Group 1 include the votes cast by Canadian citizens residing outside Canada, members of the Canadian Armed Forces who voted at military polls, incarcerated electors and Canadian citizens residing in Canada who voted by special ballot outside their riding. The results for Group 2 include the votes cast by Canadian citizens residing in Canada who voted by special ballot inside their riding.

In federal elections, all regular ballots and special ballots are counted by hand in front of candidates or their representatives. The totals are then entered into our results aggregation and reporting system. This system allows us to post the results on the Elections Canada website and provide them to media outlets in near real time.

A few days after election night, each returning officer (RO) validates the results for their riding. The RO compares the totals entered for each polling station into the results aggregation and reporting system with those recorded on the paper Statement of the Vote on election night. If the RO finds that the totals in the results aggregation and reporting system don't match those on the Statement of the Vote, the RO corrects the error in the system.

This validation is done in front of candidates or their representatives. Once the results have been confirmed, the RO issues a certificate or shows the number of votes for each candidate in the riding and gives it to the Chief Electoral Officer. The RO also provides copies to the candidates or their representatives. Elections Canada publishes the validated results on our website as we receive them.  

Learn more: Safeguards for Counting Votes and Reporting on Results

Paid election workers count votes by hand in front of candidates, their representatives and other designated observers.

Learn more: Safeguards for Counting Votes and Reporting on Results 

While Elections Canada does not use automatic ballot-counting machines, they are successfully and securely used by election agencies in many other jurisdictions.

Any changes to how federal elections are run—including how Canadians can cast their vote—would require changes to the Canada Elections Act. Such changes can only be made through Parliament.

We anticipate that electronic lists of electors will reduce wait times at polling places that have several polling stations (voting service desks).

Currently, there is a paper list of electors for each polling station, and electors must vote at their assigned polling station. Electors may get frustrated if they have to wait in line to be served at their polling station when other voting service desks are free. In contrast, an electronic list can be used for all the polling stations in a polling place, allowing electors to vote at the first desk that becomes available.

Electronic lists, used in combination with the voter information card, will enable election workers to quickly serve registered electors when they show up to vote, while maintaining the high integrity standards of the electoral process.  

Many provinces and territories have used electronic lists successfully, and they have been shown to make the voting process more efficient. Before we introduce electronic lists in a federal general election, we will first test them in a by-election to make sure they work properly.  

Learn more: FAQs on Elections – Elections Canada

That said, nomination contestants and registered parties must comply with the political financing requirements for nomination campaigns as set out in the Canada Elections Act.

Learn more: Political Financing Handbook for Nomination Contestants and Financial Agents

Candidates can also run in an election without a party nomination, either as an "independent" candidate or as a candidate with "no affiliation."

Learn more: How to Become a Candidate

Undue foreign influence occurs when an individual who does not reside in Canada or who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident knowingly incurs expenses to directly promote or oppose a candidate or a leader of a registered party in an election. This includes expenses that go toward election advertising or surveys.

Undue foreign influence could also include attempts to convince an elector to act against federal or provincial election laws and regulations.  

However, non-Canadians can participate in the electoral process in ways that are not considered an offence under the Act. As long as no expenses are incurred, non-Canadians are free to express opinions on an election, make statements encouraging electors to vote or not vote for specific candidates and share editorial content discussing the election.  

Learn more about what is considered undue foreign influence: Understanding Foreign Interference 

To properly mark a ballot, an elector must make a clear mark in the circle beside their chosen candidate's name. The ballot must not be marked in more than one circle, and there must be no writing or mark on the ballot that could identify the elector.

By law, poll workers must provide a black-lead pencil to electors. Pencils are widely used in elections around the world. In Canada, pencils have always been used in federal elections because they do not dry up or have the risk of ink blotting, which could lead to a spoiled ballot.

However, in a federal election, nothing prevents you from using your own pen or other writing tool to mark your ballot.

Elections Canada maintains the National Register of Electors, and we have many safeguards in place to make sure that voter registrations are accurate and up to date. For example, we use data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to confirm the citizenship of those in the Register and remove the names of any who are non-citizens.

Learn more: Voter Registration Safeguards

If we find any possible cases of a non-citizen having voted, a violation of the Canada Elections Act, we will refer the matter to the Commissioner of Canada Elections for review.

Learn more: Understanding Foreign Interference – Elections Canada.

Changes to federal electoral districts are governed by the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act. Under the Act, the electoral boundaries commissions, which work independently in each province, review and, if needed, redraw electoral boundaries.

Learn more about their role: Federal Electoral Districts Redistribution 2022

From year to year, Canada's population shifts and grows, and the boundaries of federal electoral districts are redrawn to reflect significant changes in our country's demographics. The Constitution of Canada requires that federal electoral districts be reviewed after each decennial census (every 10 years).

Elections Canada's main role in this process is providing administrative and technical support to the commissions.

Learn more: The role of Elections Canada in the federal redistribution process

The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada (CEO) has a very specific role, which is outlined in the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act. The CEO's main task is to apply the representation formula from the Constitution, which is used to calculate how many seats in the House of Commons will be assigned to each province. However, the CEO exercises no discretionary authority over this calculation: only Parliament may amend it. Also, the CEO does not decide how the seats are distributed within each province; such decisions lie exclusively with the electoral boundaries commissions.

Learn more about the representation formula and the calculation of seats in 2022: House of Commons seat allocation by province 2022 to 2032

To look up which electoral district you live in, visit the Voter Information Service.

In accordance with the Canada Elections Act, federal elections typically occur on a fixed date: the third Monday of October in the fourth calendar year following the previous general election. The last federal election took place on September 20, 2021, which means that the next election is currently planned for October 20, 2025.

However, an election could be held earlier. An election is called whenever the Governor General dissolves Parliament on the advice of the Prime Minister, and election day must be at least 36 days but no more than 50 days later. If election day falls before the fixed date, this is what we refer to as a "snap election."

Learn more: FAQs on Elections

The Commissioner's office handles complaints about potential wrongdoing in federal elections. It conducts investigations independently of Elections Canada and the government of the day to determine whether the law has been broken. When there is evidence of wrongdoing, the Commissioner may apply various compliance or enforcement measures—including the laying of civil or criminal charges—to ensure that the Act is respected.

The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer

If Elections Canada becomes aware of a potential violation of the Act, it refers the matter to the Commissioner's office for consideration and possible investigation. Elections Canada does not comment publicly on cases that have been referred to the Commissioner.

Anyone who believes that there has been wrongdoing under the Act can contact the Commissioner's office to submit a complaint.

Learn more: About Us – Commissioner of Canada Elections

Every elector must provide proof of their identity and address before being allowed to vote. When an elector uses their voter information card as their proof of address, they must also show another piece of accepted ID to prove their identity.

Elections Canada maintains the National Register of Electors and updates it regularly using information from several sources. These include the Canada Revenue Agency, provincial and territorial election agencies and provincial and territorial vital statistics bureaus.

See the full list of sources: Description of the National Register of Electors 

However, there is necessarily a delay between the time a person passes away and the time Elections Canada is informed about the death. Occasionally, this means that Elections Canada will not have been informed in time to update the lists of electors for the election. It is always unfortunate when a voter information card is delivered for a deceased person, and we regret any distress this may cause.

Learn more: Voting Safeguards 

• By presenting a card issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial/territorial or local) that shows their photo, name and current address—for example, a driver's license.
• By presenting two separate documents, such as a health care card with their name and a hydro bill with their name and current address.  
• By having someone vouch for their identity and address and making a solemn written declaration. The voucher must appear on the list of electors at the same polling station as the voter, know the voter personally and prove their identity by showing accepted ID. They cannot have vouched for another voter or have their own identity and address vouched for.   

If a voter cannot prove their identity and address in one of these ways, they cannot vote.

Learn more: Voting Safeguards

There are three ways for electors to prove their identity and address:

• By presenting a card issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial/territorial or local) that shows their photo, name and current address—for example, a driver's license.
• By presenting two separate documents, such as a health care card showing their name and a hydro bill showing their name and current address. 
• By having someone vouch for their identity and address and making a written declaration. The voucher must appear on the list of electors at the same polling station as the voter, know the voter personally and prove their own identity by showing accepted ID. They cannot have vouched for another voter or have their own identity and address vouched for.  

If a person is unable to prove their address, they cannot vote.

Learn more: Voting Safeguards and ID to Vote

Learn more: Returning Officers

Poll workers are on the front lines during an election, serving electors in person at polling places. There are many poll worker positions, each with its own set of responsibilities. For example, an information officer directs electors to the appropriate polling station when they arrive at a polling place, a registration officer handles special situations such as voter registration, and a deputy returning officer manages the ballots.

All poll workers sign a solemn declaration that they will be non-partisan while working at an election and protect the secrecy of the vote. Their main job is to make it possible for electors to vote in an orderly fashion.

Learn more: Poll Workers

In Canada, there is a strong tradition of non-partisanship among federal, provincial and territorial chief electoral officers. The CEO of Canada cannot vote in federal elections. The CEO also has a legal duty to act in a non-partisan manner. The same duty is imposed on all federal election administrators, including returning officers and field liaison officers.

The current CEO, Stéphane Perrault, was appointed on June 8, 2018. He can only be removed before his term is up by the Governor General, following a joint address of the House of Commons and Senate.

Once appointed, the CEO becomes an agent of Parliament. This means that the CEO is completely independent from the government and political parties.

Part of the CEO's job is to report directly to Parliament on the administration of general elections and by-elections. The CEO can also make recommendations to Parliament if they think any beneficial changes should be made to legislation.

Learn more about the CEO's role: The Chief Electoral Officer and His Office – Overview of Elections Canada and the Federal Electoral System Briefing Book (October 2021)

Reporting on how each election unfolded allows Elections Canada to learn lessons for future elections and is one of several steps that we take to close each election. These steps include producing several reports on the past election, conducting analyses and starting to plan for the next one. Read the reports on past elections: Elections Canada's Official Reports

There are limits on how much parties can spend on various activities during election periods and pre-election periods. These activities include advertising, surveys, lawn signs and anything else intended to directly promote or oppose a registered party, its candidates or its leader.

There are safeguards in place to ensure that parties spend within their limits and provide transparency so that Canadians can see how the money was spent. Parties must report their expenses for a general election in a financial return, which is accompanied by a report from an external auditor. Elections Canada reviews the reports and publishes the financial return online for anyone to see.

Spending limits generally apply to expenses incurred during the election period, but they also apply to expenses incurred beforehand for materials or services used during the election. For example, costs that were incurred before an election period to buy campaign signs that stay up during the election would count toward the party's spending limit and must be reported.

There are also limits on who can make political contributions, and how much they can contribute, as well as spending caps for third parties. All this ensures that there are limits to the funds available. 

Even outside elections, parties must file annual financial returns on the donations they receive and the money they spend, including on party administration. It's Elections Canada's job to review these reports and make sure they comply with the Elections Canada Act.

We publish all the financial returns on our website so that the public can see them.

Learn more: Political Financing, Spending and Advertising Safeguards 

Although campaign activities outside an election or pre-election period are permitted, candidates and parties have to follow certain rules. For example, they may be required to account for such activities in the financial returns they file with Elections Canada after an election.

As with most political financing questions, the details matter when determining whether a campaign activity occurring outside an election period is subject to regulation.