February 25, 2019 By Elections – Information for Canadians Living Abroad

Supreme Court of Canada in its ruling on January 11, 2019 said that a Canadian elector living abroad who has previously resided in Canada is entitled to vote by special ballot in federal elections regardless of how long they have been living abroad. Elections Canada is currently updating its online forms and information to reflect the ruling which came into effect immediately and is therefore applicable in the 3 Bye Elections due on February 25, 2019 for York-Simcoe (ON), Burnaby South (BC) and Outremont (QC)

The elector living abroad must register as an international elector by completing an application which must be received by Elections Canada in Ottawa no later than 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Tuesday before polling day for him to be able to cast his vote. The application must include:

• A copy of one of the following pieces of identification as proof of the elector’s identity: pages 2 and 3 of a Canadian passport, a birth or baptismal certificate attesting that the elector was born in Canada, or a Canadian citizenship certificate or card;
• the elector’s date of birth;
• the date the elector left Canada;
• the address of the elector’s last place of ordinary residence in Canada before they left Canada or the address of the place of ordinary residence in Canada of the spouse, the common-law partner or a relative of the elector, a relative of the elector’s spouse or common-law partner, a person in relation to whom the elector is a dependent or a person with whom the elector would live but for their residing outside Canada;
• the elector’s mailing address outside Canada; and
• any other information that the Chief Electoral Officer considers necessary to determine the elector’s entitlement to vote or the electoral district in which they may vote.

Once an elector living abroad successfully completes the application process, during an election or by-election, they are sent a special ballot voting kit. Completed ballots must be received by Elections Canada in Ottawa by 6:00 p.m. on polling day.

If you are a Canadian citizen living abroad, will be at least 18 years old on polling day, and think you are eligible to vote in one of the current federal by-elections, please contact us by phone or email to confirm your eligibility and request a special ballot.

Further information available at:

svrenq@elections.ca
613-949-7502 (collect calls are accepted)
1-866-222-2565 toll-free in Canada and the US
001-800-514-6868 toll-free in Mexico
TTY 1-800-361-8935 toll-free in Canada and the US