Site MenuSurvey of Electors Following the April 3, 2017, By-elections in Calgary Heritage (Alberta), Calgary Midnapore (Alberta), Markham–Thornhill, (Ontario), Ottawa–Vanier (Ontario) and Saint-Laurent (Quebec)
IV. Voter Identification
Awareness of Voter Identification Requirements
Nearly all (98%) respondents from the first half of a split-sample question said that voters have to present proof of identity in order to vote in a Canadian election. Slightly less, but still the vast majority, said they have to present proof of address (91%).
Q12B. Do voters have to present a proof of IDENTITY in order to vote in a Canadian federal election? [SPLIT SAMPLE: n=999]
Q13. Do voters have to present a proof of ADDRESS in order to vote in a Canadian federal election? [SPLIT SAMPLE: n=999]
When respondents from the second half of the split sample were asked a different question about what electors must provide in order to vote at a federal election, 78% said both proof of identity and address.
Text description of "Awareness of Voter Identification Requirements"
Q12A. In order to vote at a federal election, must electors provide… [SPLIT SAMPLE: n=1,001]
Identification Requirements
Of those who voted in the by-election (n=1,258), almost everyone (99%) had the required identification documents with them when they went to vote.
Percentage that had the required ID documents
Text description of "Percentage that had the required ID documents"
Q14. Did you have the required identification documents with you?
Base: n=1,258; respondents who voted at an advance poll or at a polling station on election day.
Ease of Meeting Voter Identification Requirements
The overwhelming majority of those who voted (n=1,258) said it was very (91%) or somewhat (7%) easy to meet the requirements for voting.
- Voters from the riding of Saint-Laurent (81%) were least likely to say it was very easy to meet these requirements. Conversely, voters from the riding of Calgary Heritage (98%) were most likely to say it was very easy to meet the identification requirements.
- Women (94%) were more likely than men to have said it was very easy to meet the identification requirements.
- English-speaking voters (94%) were more likely than Allophones (84%) and Francophones (81%) to have said it was very easy to meet these requirements.
Text description of "Ease of Meeting Voter Identification Requirements"
Q15. Overall, how easy was it to meet the identification requirements? Would you say that it was...?
Base: n=1,258; respondents who voted at an advance poll or at a polling station on election day. Dk/nr: <1%