FAQs on ID
Below are frequently asked questions about identification guidelines for federal elections in Canada.
Information about pieces of ID
- How do I prove my identity and address when I go to vote?
- Can I use ID with a mailing address – PO box, rural route or general delivery?
- Can I use my voter information card as ID?
- I'm a student. What ID do I need to vote?
- I have ID that is not on Elections Canada's list. Will it be accepted?
- My ID is not in English or French. Will it be accepted?
- I lost my original ID document. Can I show a copy?
- My ID is expired. Will it be accepted?
- What is a letter of confirmation of residence?
- What happens if I use my preferred name at my polling place?
- How accurate is the voter information card?
Information for transgender voters
- Does my sex, gender expression or the sex indicator on my ID and voter registration documents affect my right to vote?
- I would like to use photo ID, but my appearance does not match the photo. Can I still vote?
- I would like to use two pieces of ID, but they show different sex/gender indicators. Can I still vote?
- I would like to use two pieces of ID, but they show different names. Can I still vote?
- I changed my first or middle name and informed several agencies. Will my voter registration be updated automatically?
Information about pieces of ID
How do I prove my identity and address when I go to vote?
If you don't have accepted ID proving your identity and address, make a solemn declaration and have someone who knows you and who is assigned to the same polling station vouch for your identity and address. Learn more about the solemn declaration.
See your options and the full list of ID accepted at the polls.
Can I use ID with a mailing address – PO box, rural route or general delivery?
Yes, if that is how your address appears on the list of electors.
If you're not sure what address we have on file, you can check your voter information by using the Online Voter Registration Service.
Can I use my voter information card as ID?
Yes, the voter information card is an accepted piece of ID to prove your address. It must be used with another piece of accepted ID to prove your identity
I'm a student. What ID do I need to vote?
See the full list of accepted ID, including the letter of confirmation.
I have ID that is not on Elections Canada's list. Will it be accepted?
You can only show ID from this list. No other pieces will be accepted.
My ID is not in English or French. Will it be accepted?
You must show ID in English or French. In Nunavut, we also accept ID in Inuktitut.
I lost my original ID document. Can I show a copy?
No. We only accept pieces of ID in the format they were originally issued.
An exception is made for documents only issued electronically, such as e-statements or e invoices. In these cases, you can bring printouts or show them on your mobile phone.
My ID is expired. Will it be accepted?
Yes. Make sure it has your name and current address. See the full list of accepted ID.
What is a letter of confirmation of residence?
You can use this letter as your proof of address – along with a second piece of ID – if you live in or receive services from a:
- student residence
- seniors' residence
- long-term care facility
- shelter
- soup kitchen
- First Nations' band or reserve
- Inuit local authority.
This proof of address will be valid only if it is signed by the administrator of one of the facilities listed above.
What happens if I use my preferred name at my polling station?
You can 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.
How accurate is the voter information card?
Elections Canada uses multiple data sources to update the National Register of Electors, used to produce the voter information card (VIC). This rigorous process allows for the VIC to be considered one of the most up-to-date pieces of ID for an elector to prove their address. A 2018 study by Statistics Canada on behalf of Elections Canada showed that 85 percent of the addresses of individuals in the databases of driver's licence agencies are current, as opposed to 90.5 percent in the Register.
Information for transgender voters
Does my sex, gender expression or the sex indicator on my ID and voter information affect my right to vote?
No. If you are 18 or older on election day and a Canadian citizen, you are eligible to vote.
By law, all electors must:
- show ID accepted by Elections Canada to prove their identity and address
- be registered (or register at the polls) under the name and address shown on this ID.
You can check that you are registered under your current name and address by using the Online Voter Registration Service.
I would like to use photo ID, but my appearance does not match the photo. Can I still vote?
Yes, you can still vote as long as your name and address on your ID match your name and address in your voter information. You don’t have to show any other proof, and your gender is not included on the list of electors at the polls.
I would like to use two pieces of ID, but they show different sex/gender indicators. Can I still vote?
Yes, you can still vote as long as your name and address on your two forms of ID match your name and address in your voter information.
You are not required to show ID that includes a sex/gender indicator, and the list of electors at the polls does not include your gender.
I would like to use two pieces of ID, but they show different names. Can I still vote?
No. If your name is not the same on the two forms of ID, you will not be able to vote by showing these two items together. The names on your chosen ID documents must be the same and also match the name in your voter information. There are, however, many options to prove your identity and address.
I changed my given name(s) and informed several agencies. Will my voter information be updated automatically?
Yes. However, there are a number of reasons why Elections Canada may not have received and processed the information yet. We use several data sources to update the first and middle names of electors. Note that requests sent to any other sources are not communicated to Elections Canada. Elections Canada cannot validate and process any changes to your name or gender if some of these data sources have different information about you.
Updating your information directly with Elections Canada ensures your first and middle name will appear correctly in your voter information. During an election, you can update your information, including changes to your name, at your assigned polling station when you go to vote. Once you make the change with Elections Canada, your voter information will be updated for future elections.