Federal Elections

**Voting rights** Canadian citizens aged 18 or over can vote in federal elections. Permanent residents cannot vote in federal elections. **Electoral districts** Canada is divided into 338 electoral districts (ridings). Each riding elects one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons. **First past the post** Canada uses the "first past the post" electoral system — the candidate with the most votes in a riding wins the seat, even without a majority. **When elections are held** Federal elections are generally held every four years on the third Monday in October. However, the Governor General can dissolve Parliament earlier on the advice of the Prime Minister, or a government can fall if it loses a confidence vote. **How to vote** On election day, eligible voters go to their local polling station and mark their ballot. The ballot is secret — no one can know how you voted. Advance voting allows you to vote before election day. You can also vote by mail. **Political parties** The main federal parties are the Liberal Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party (NDP), Bloc Québécois and Green Party. **Majority and minority governments** A **majority government** is formed when a party wins more than half (170+) of the 338 seats. A **minority government** is formed when the governing party wins the most seats but fewer than half — it must seek support from other parties to govern. **Your local MP** Your elected Member of Parliament represents your riding in Ottawa. You can contact your MP about issues that concern you. **Elections Canada** Elections Canada is an independent, non-partisan agency responsible for administering federal elections and ensuring all eligible Canadians can vote.