Canada's 40th general election will take place tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 14.)
Voters across the country will take to the polls at various times, through the staggered voting system employed by Elections Canada.
The polls open and close at various times according to time zone, allowing for the majority of results to come available at approximately the same time across the country. Below is the list of voting hours across Canada.
Time zones
Videos
Voting information for the hearing impaired
Video instructions courtesy of Elections Canada
Poll opening and closing times across Canada in local time:
- Newfoundland Time 8:30 a.m. — 8:30 p.m.
- Atlantic Time 8:30 a.m. — 8:30 p.m.
- Eastern Time 9:30 a.m. — 9:30 p.m.
- Central Time* 8:30 a.m. — 8:30 p.m.
- Mountain Time* 7:30 a.m. — 7:30 p.m.
- Pacific Time 7:00 a.m. — 7:00 p.m.
*In Saskatchewan, when daylight saving time is in effect for the rest of the country, voting hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (local time).
If an electoral district spans more than one time zone, the returning officer, with the prior approval of the Chief Electoral Officer, determines one local time for voting throughout the district.
On election day
In order to vote on election day, you will need some basic information. How do you find your polling station? What identification do you need to bring in order to vote? How do you properly fill out a ballot?
In order to ensure that Canadians are ready to vote on Tuesday, Elections Canada has posted easy to use directions on its web site. Selected links appear below:
- Find your polling station
- Are you eligible to vote?
- What you need to vote
- Vote by mail
- How to mark your ballot
Advance polls closed on Oct. 6th.
Special needs
There are ample resources for voters with special needs. Attached to this story is a video designed for the hearing impaired with instructions offered in American sign language.
Literacy: http://www.literacy.ca/interactive/interactive.html
For people who are deaf or hard of hearing: TTY 1-800-361-8935 (toll-free in Canada and the United States); Fax: 613-954-8584; 1-888-524-1444 (toll-free in Canada and the United States)
Additional tools available at globeandmail.com/politics include the interactive riding finder and candidate finder.
Related web sites:
