Federal election advanced voting opens over Easter weekend

OTTAWA – Ottawa residents and students will have several chances to vote in the 45th general election, including in advance polls opening this weekend and on Election Day April 28.

Four days of advance voting will be held over the Easter weekend in Ottawa and across Canada.

New federal ridings have changed the landscape in West Carleton for the April 28 election. The West Carleton community is now divided in to two ridings. Ward 5 residents west of, from the Ottawa River to Highway 417, Berry Side Road. Murphy Side Road, Craig’s Side Road, Donald B. Munro Drive and Vaughan Side Road are now in Carleton Riding. Those who live east of those roads are now in the newly formed Kanata Riding.

Candidates in the Kanata Riding include Conservative candidate Greg Kung, Liberal candidate Jenna Sudds (incumbent), NDP candidate Melissa Simon, Centrist Party candidate Moinuddin Siddiqui and Green Party candidate Dr. Jennifer Purdy.

In the Carleton Riding there are 91 candidates running, but the vast majority are part of a protest known as the Longest Ballot Committee. Canidates not affiliated with that organization include

Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy, Conservative candidate Pierre Poilievre (incumbent and party leader candidate), NDP candidate Beth Prokaska, Green Party candidate Mark Watson, Canadian Future Party Shawn McEachern, Marijuana Party Danny Légaré, Party Rhinocéros Party candidate Sébastien CoRhino, and United Party candidate Karen Bourdeau.

To find candidates through a variety of search options, click here.

To vote in the federal election, you must:

• Be a Canadian citizen
• Be at least 18 years old on election day
• Prove your identity and address

Elections Canada says you have three options to prove your identity and address at the polling station:

• Option 1: Driver’s licence or any other card issued by a Canadian government with your photo, name and current address.
• Option 2: Show two pieces of ID. Elections Canada says both pieces of ID must have your name and at least one must have your current address. Examples include a voter information card and bank statement or a utility bill and a student ID card.
• Option 3: Elections Canada says you can still vote if you declare your identity and address in writing and have someone who knows you and who is assigned to your poll station vouch for you.

Elections Canada says if you’re registered, you should have received a voter information card in the mail by April 11.

The card will tell you where and when you can vote, how to request voting assistance in advance and the address of the closest Elections Canada office where you can vote by special ballot.

“If you didn’t receive a card by April 11 or the information on it is incorrect, you may not be registered or your registration may not be up to date,” Elections Canada said.

You can visit the Elections Canada website to update your voter information, or you can register when you go to vote.

For information on your riding and where to vote, visit www.elections.ca.

Elections Canada says four days of advance voting will be hold on April 18, 19, 20 and 21.

Advance voting locations will be open between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Information on where to vote will be available on your voter information card. While it may seem odd to have polling over a holiday weekend, advance voting days are fixed by law to the week before voting day.

Election Day for the 45th federal election is April 28.

Polling stations in Ottawa, eastern Ontario and western Quebec will be open between 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Elections Canada says there are voting rooms at Algonquin College, Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. Students can vote April 13, 14, 15 and 16.

When voting on campus, electors vote by a special ballot.  Electors must show proof of their identity and address.

“Any eligible Canadian can vote at a Vote on Campus office; they do not need to be a student,” Elections Canada says. “For example, if an elector is away from their riding during the election, they can use the nearest Vote on Campus location.”

Elections Canada says for students to prove your identity, you can show a piece of ID with your name on it and to prove your address you can show an official letter called a Letter of Confirmation of Residence.

Here are the locations:

• Algonquin College – Ottawa Campus. Second floor Atrium in the ACCE Building
• Carleton University – Fourth floor of the Nideyinàn Galleria.
• University of Ottawa Main Campus: UCU 031 Student Lounge

Elections Canada says international students who do not have Canadian citizenship cannot vote.