For Your Information

Federal Election 2025

The writ for the 45th Federal Election was issued on Sunday, March 23 with April 28 as polling day, which is also the National Day of Mourning.

The 45th Federal Election will be for 343 seats in the House of Commons.[1] This means that a cartel party vying to form a majority party government must win at least 172 seats.[2]

Eligible Voters

As of the last decennial population census conducted in 2021, Canada has a population of 38,246,108 people. Elections Canada’s most recent update of the voter’s list in November 2024 reported 27,966,452 registered voters out of 28,896,352 that are eligible.

To be an eligible voter a person must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years of age on election day, and be on the voter’s list. Eligible voters not already on the voter’s list can register online or at a returning office up until April 22, after which registration is only available on polling day.

Candidate Registration

The deadline for candidate registration was Monday, April 7 at 2:00 pm. The final list of all those nominated was published on April 9. Any citizen 18 years of age or over, with few exceptions, is eligible. Those excluded are election officers, prisoners in a correctional institution; persons convicted of committing an illegal practice under the Canada Elections Act during the past five years, or a corrupt practice under the same act in the last seven years, plus any candidate who failed to file an election return in a previous election. Members of provincial assemblies and judges, except for citizenship judges, are also not eligible to be candidates. Those who work for the civil service must get permission from their supervisor to make sure the impression is not given that they represent the department in question. Depending on the decision of their supervisor they may or may not have to take a leave of absence.

Candidates had to be nominated by 100 electors except in 35 ridings where, due to the sparseness of people and remoteness/vastness of the territory, only 50 nominators are required.

Candidates also had to appoint an official agent responsible for opening a bank account, tracking election expenditures and submitting financial returns to Elections Canada within four months of polling day.

Candidates who file “nil returns” do not need auditors. A “nil return” means they did not incur expenses or receive contributions with the exception of in-kind services valued at $200 or less.

Voting

Special Ballots

Special voting ballots can be cast either in person at a returning office or by mail. These ballots become available and can be cast as soon as the returning offices open. The deadline to apply to vote by special ballot is Tuesday, April 22, at 6 pm, Eastern time. The marked ballot must be returned to Elections Canada by election day, Monday, April 28 at 6:00 pm Eastern time.

Special ballots do not have the names of the candidates listed. Entering the name of a political party alone is not accepted as a valid vote; the elector must write in the name of the candidate for whom they are casting a ballot.

Mail-in Ballots

Mail-in ballots must be received by Elections Canada no later than April 28 and can be applied for at the Returning Offices or directly from Elections Canada up until April 22.

Advance Polls

Advance polling days at specified locations began on Friday, April 18 and ended on Monday, April 21.

Identification Requirements

In all cases, whether voting on polling day, by special ballot or at advance polls, identification must be provided.

For Further Information

Write 2025election@cpcml.ca or consult the Elections Canada Website here.

1. The increased number of seats from the prior 338 is based on the 2021 decennial population estimate of 38,246,108 people in Canada, up from 33,476,688 in the 2011 census. This led to one additional seat for British Columbia, three for Alberta; and one in Ontario.

All but 48 ridings in the country have undergone boundary changes.

2. At dissolution, the 338 House of Commons seats were held by 152 Liberals; 120 Conservatives; 33 Bloc Québécois; 24 New Democrats; two Greens; and three independents. Four seats were vacant.