From Susan Munroe,
Your Guide to Canada Online.
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Who is Eligible to Vote

To vote in a Canadian federal election you must be a Canadian citizen and be 18 or older on election day.

The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada and the Assistant Chief Electoral Officer are not allowed to vote.

You should be on the voters list to vote.

Voting in Advance Polls

If you are not able to vote on election day, you can vote in the advance polls held in all ridings. Locations and times of advance polls appear on the Voter Information Cards that Elections Canada mails to all registered electors once a federal election has been called.

Voting by Special Ballot

Eligible electors who do not wish to vote at their polling station, or cannot get to a regular polling station on election day or during the advance polls, can vote by mail, or in person at the office of the returning officer, using a Special Ballot.

To use a Special Ballot, you must have a Canadian address for electoral purposes and your vote will be counted for that riding. It is important to apply for a Special Ballot as soon as possible. Elections Canada will process your application, then send you a voting kit, which must be completed and received back by Elections Canada by 6 p.m. EST on election day. You can get an application form by calling Elections Canada at 1-800-INFO-VOTE (1-800-463-6868), from your riding returning officer, or from the nearest embassy or consulate.