Federal election – be an informed voter
April 4, 2025
By Marco Campana, Knowledge Mobilization and Social Action Coordinator, Access Alliance
The Federal election is coming up on April 28, 2025. The Canadian government touches many areas of our lives. This voter information toolkit will help you understand If you can vote, why you should vote if you can, information about election jobs, and where you can get more information.
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
If you can’t vote, there is still plenty you can do.
In this post:
- Learn about how to vote and how to get ready to vote
- Find out about activities at our AccessPoint on Danforth and AccessPoint on Jane locations
- Get key details on candidates and election timelines
- Get sample questions you can ask candidates
- Learn about different party platforms and issues
- Find out how you can get involved and work on election day
- Get information about how to vote in over 30 languages
We have created a voter information toolkit you can download and share. It has all the information that we’re sharing in this post.
How to vote and how to get ready to vote
The Elections Canada website has all the information you need on how to vote, including mail-in voting, how to get on the voter’s list, voting options, key dates, and more. They also have translated materials available in over 30 different languages!
Their frequently asked question section has all the information you need to get ready to vote.
If you are looking for some in-person information and support, join us at our AccessPoint on Danforth and AccessPoint on Jane locations for workshops and information sessions (click on the image to see it full size):
Details on candidates and election timelines
Find all the information you need on how to vote on the Elections Canada site.
Some key dates:
Learn about your local candidates as of April 9 (when Elections Canada finalizes the list and shares the confirmed candidates). You can find your electoral district here. When you search here you’ll find the list of candidates (after April 9th) as well as helpful answers to frequently asked questions like:
- Where do I vote?
- Am I registered to vote?
- What pieces of ID do I need to vote?
If you are registered you should receive your voter information card by April 11. Not registered? Confirm, update or add your voter information to the Voter Register by April 22.
Apply to vote by mail before April 22.
Vote in advance between April 18-21.
Sample questions you can ask candidates
Healthcare
- What steps would you take to help more people get healthcare while making sure doctors and nurses aren’t overworked?
- Many people can’t afford mental health help and must wait too long to get it. How would you make mental health care more available to everyone?
Decent Work
- How would you protect all workers’ rights, no matter what kind of job they have or who they are?
- What will you do to improve the employment prospects, and pay parity, at all skill levels?
Food Security
- How would you ensure that everyone can afford the basics?
- How would you expand and creating new income supports for workers and people on fixed incomes? This includes applying a racial equity lens to all poverty-reducing policies to ensure they reach the communities most at risk of food insecurity
Environment and Sustainability
- What will you do to support and expand public transportation?
- How will you work to advance environmental justice and protect the vulnerable communities currently bearing the brunt of climate change?
- How will you hold corporations that pollute our air and water accountable?
- How will you ensure all communities receive equitable access to clean air and water and equitable response to climate disasters such as wildfires, storms and flooding?
Affordable Housing
- What would you do to help make housing cheaper and better in Toronto, and how would you protect renters?
Newcomers
- How will you support the immigrant and refugee serving-sector to deliver appropriate settlement services to immigrants and refugees, to support them to reach their full social, political and economic potential?
- What does your party propose for improving protections and settlement services for 2SLGBTQI+ refugees?
These are just some topics to consider. If you are interested in learning more these organizations have created useful topic and issue summaries, along with questions you can ask candidates:
Different party platforms and issues
Find information about the main four provincial parties and their platforms:
The CBC website has a useful party platform feature where you can compare all party platforms on these specific issues:
- Climate change, energy
- Cost of living
- Defence.
- Foreign policy
- Government spending
- Health care
- Housing
- Immigration
- Infrastructure
- U.S. relations, tariffs
How you can get involved and work on election day
Find out how you can get involved and work on election day.
Poll workers mainly work at polling places, where electors go to vote. Various positions are available, from the deputy returning officer, who handles the ballots, to the information officer, who directs electors to the appropriate table. To work as a poll worker, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen;
- be at least 16 years old on election day;
- be non-partisan and not participate in any partisan political activity while you work for Elections Canada.
Get information about how to vote in over 30 languages
Elections Canada has translated materials in over 30 different languages, including:
- A guide to the federal election – general information about how to vote
- A voter Identification information sheet – how to prove you identity and address