Canadians who want to vote by mail in the Sept. 20 federal election have just under three weeks to request a voting kit to fill out and send back to Elections Canada.
The deadline to apply for a mail voting kit is 6 p.m on Sept. 14 but special ballots must be received by Elections Canada before polls close Sept. 20.
Eligible voters can apply for a voting kit online, fax or mail a completed application form or call Elections Canada to request one. Special ballot voting kits can also be obtonin in person at any Elections Canada office.
Applications must include copies of the voter’s proof of identity and current address. Acceptable proof of identity includes a driver’s licence or other government-issued card with the holder’s name, photo and current address. Those who do not have such a piece of ID can submit two pieces of ID that show their names, at least one of which must also include their current address. Acceptable examples include a voter information card, bank statement, utility bill or student ID card, among others.
Once Elections Canada receives the application, it will mail back a voting kit. Processing of applications may take up to 72 hours but should speed up as election day approaches.
Once the voting kit is received, a voter must complete the special ballot it contains by writing the name of the candidate they are voting for on it and placing it in the pre-addressed prepaid return envelope that the voting kit contains. It can be dropped off in any Canada Post mailbox, returned in person to the voter’s Elections Canada office or dropped off at the voter’s assigned polling place on election day.
Ballots that are not received at the appropriate Elections Canada office or polling place on or before Sept. 20 will not be counted and people who request a special ballot cannot change their mind and vote in person on election day or during advance polls because their names will be crossed off the list of electors once the voting kit application is processed.
For more information, visit the voting by mail section of the Elections Canada website.
