Canada’s federal election is set for April 28

Canada's federal election is set for April 28.

Here's an overview of the electoral process. Mark Carney, a former central banker, was elected leader of the Liberal Party last month and is now running for the position of Prime Minister, which does not require the holder to be a Parliamentary member. He is contesting in his first election to represent a middle-class suburb of Ottawa.
On April 28, Canadians will cast their votes to decide which party will lead the government: the incumbent Liberal Party, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, or the Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, who aims to regain power after nearly ten years in opposition. Here's what you need to know about voting day and the aftermath. Who Can Vote and What is on the Ballot?: Every Canadian citizen is eligible to vote, including prisoners and those living abroad, with one exception: the chief electoral officer, a nonpartisan official designated by Parliament to oversee the electoral process, cannot vote during their ten-year term. Traditionally, the Governor General, representing the monarchy, abstains from voting to ensure political neutrality. The primary task for voters is to select their local representative for the House of Commons, which comprises 343 members—an increase of five from the last election due to population growth. Canada employs a "first past the post" electoral system, meaning the candidate with the most votes wins the seat, even if they do not secure a majority of the total votes. There are no votes on referendums or other offices. How to Vote: Most Canadians have received a card by mail detailing their polling place and the locations for four days of advance voting, starting on Friday. Elections Canada, the nonpartisan agency managing the election, provides an online service for those with discrepancies on their cards or who haven't received one. While having a voter card simplifies the process, it is not mandatory.
For Canadians residing outside the country or those unable to vote on Election Day or during advance voting, applications for mail-in ballots must be submitted by Tuesday. Mail-in ballots can also be returned to any election office. Any ballots arriving at Elections Canada in Ottawa post 6 p.m. Eastern time on Election Day will not be counted. Who Elects the Prime Minister?: No one directly votes for the Prime Minister. Generally, the party that secures at least a plurality of seats in the House of Commons requests the Governor General's consent to form a government, with the party leader becoming Prime Minister and selecting a cabinet from their party members in Parliament. While the Liberals and Conservatives dominate, the New Democratic Party (NDP) also fields candidates in most federal electoral districts but has never formed a federal government. Current polls indicate that NDP support has fallen to its lowest level since 2000.
The Bloc Québécois runs candidates exclusively in Quebec. The Prime Minister is not required to be a Parliament member. Mark Carney, succeeding Justin Trudeau last month after being elected Liberal leader, is now running in his first election, aiming to represent a middle-class suburb of Ottawa, rather than his affluent neighborhood where he resides with many diplomats. When Will Results Be Announced?: Canada consists of six time zones, but polling places generally close at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with British Columbia closing at 10 p.m. Eastern Time. Preliminary results are expected on the evening of April 28. Elections Canada counts paper ballots by hand at each polling station, managed by its employees.
Candidates are allowed to appoint monitors during the counting process, and no machines are utilized. Results from polling stations are then reported to Elections Canada headquarters in Ottawa, where they are immediately made available online. As the ballot boxes remain at polling sites, early results usually start streaming in right after polls close, while the complete count can take longer after the overall election outcome is already apparent. Special ballots for mail-in voters, prisoners, Canadians abroad, and military personnel are typically counted only after Election Day to verify that no individual voted in person. What Happens if No Party Achieves a Majority?: Canada typically does not witness coalition governments common in European systems, though there was a notable exception during World War I when Conservatives and some Liberals formed a coalition in the House of Commons. Minority governments formed by the party with the most seats are frequent, often relying on the support of other parties to pass legislation.
These governments risk being ousted through no-confidence votes or rejected funding bills. For instance, a Progressive Conservative government in 1979 lasted only 66 days before being defeated, necessitating another election. After the 2021 election, the New Democrats agreed to support Justin Trudeau's government in exchange for the adoption of certain policy measures, although they were never part of his administration.