Whether this is your first or your 14th election, there are a number of things to bear in mind about how to vote today.

Canadian citizens 18 years of age or older can cast a ballot. Most eligible voters are already registered in the National Register of Electors, which Elections Canada updates from a number of sources including tax returns and vehicle registrations.

Voter information cards were mailed out to registered electors about 25 days before voting day. If you haven't received a card you can call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868 to verify whether you're on the voters list.

Voter identification

Canadian citizens who haven't received a voter information card and haven't registered to vote before can still do so at the polling station on election day. But they need to bring identification, such as:

  • a document stating his or her name, current address and photo (for example a driver's licence); or
  • one document with his or her name and signature (such as a health card), and a second document that includes name and current address (a phone bill or a hydro bill, for instance)

Canadians who have received a voter information card should bring it to the polling station along with proof of their identity and address.

Post-secondary students who live near their school during the academic year and with their parents in the summer can vote in either community, but will need to provide proof of identity and proof of their local address when they vote.

Even those who have no fixed address should be able to cast a ballot, so long as they can provide proof of identity.

When and where to cast a ballot

Anyone needing to find out where to vote can visit the Elections Canada website and type in his or her postal code.

The hours of voting are staggered across the country so the majority of results become available at around the same time:

  • Newfoundland Time 8:30 a.m. 鈥� 8:30 p.m.
  • Atlantic Time 8:30 a.m. 鈥� 8:30 p.m.
  • Eastern Time 9:30 a.m. 鈥� 9:30 p.m.
  • Central Time 8:30 a.m. 鈥� 8:30 p.m.
  • Mountain Time 7:30 a.m. 鈥� 7:30 p.m.
  • Pacific Time 7:00 a.m. 鈥� 7:00 p.m.

Since Daylight Saving Time will be in effect for the rest of the country, voting hours in Saskatchewan will be from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. local time.

Tune in to CTV after polls close in your area for complete election coverage.