Site MenuVoter Registration Mailing (February 19, 2024)
On February 19, 2024, we mailed out voter registration letters to potential new electors. If you are at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen, you can be added to the National Register of Electors (the Register).
For more information, read the FAQs below or contact us.
FAQs about Voter Registration Letters
- Q1: Why did I receive this voter registration letter?
- Q2: Why should I register?
- Q3: What is the National Register of Electors?
- Q4: What happens when I register?
- Q5: Do I have to register again during future federal elections?
- Q6: Where did you get my information?
- Q7: I'm not a Canadian citizen. What should I do with the letter?
- Q8: I just used the Online Voter Registration Service to register. Why am I getting this letter?
- Q9: I am a student. Which address should I use to register to vote?
- Q10: What's the difference between a mailing address and a residential address?
- Q11: I checked the box on my income tax form to consent to share my information with Elections Canada. Am I not already registered?
- Q12: When I do my taxes, should I always check the box to consent to share my information with Elections Canada?
- Q13: If I register to vote with Elections Canada, does that also register me to vote in provincial, territorial and municipal elections?
- Q14: Are voter registration updates made through my provincial or territorial electoral agency transferred to the National Register of Electors?
- Q15: How can I be sure that the voter registration letter I received is really from Elections Canada?
- Q16: Why am I being asked to give my email address or phone number through the Online Voter Registration Service?
- Q17: I now live at an address that is different from the one printed on the letter. Which address should I use to register online?
- Q18: What if I am unable to register online?
- Q19: I received a letter for a person who does not live here. What should I do with it?
- Q20: I received a letter for someone who passed away. Why? What should I do with the letter?
- Q21: What is a TTY?
Back to topQ1: Why did I receive this voter registration letter?
You received this letter because you may be qualified to vote in federal elections but are not currently registered. The purpose of the letter is to invite you to register online if you are at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen.
Q2: Why should I register?
You should register to receive a personalized voter information card at election time that tells you where, when and the ways to vote, and to save a step when you go to vote, as you won't have to register on site.
Q3: What is the National Register of Electors?
The National Register of Electors, also known as the Register, is a permanent, continually updated database of all Canadians who are qualified to vote. It contains the name, address, gender and date of birth of each elector, along with a unique identifier, and is used to create lists of electors for federal elections and referendums. Electors who have already registered do not have to register again for every election; however, they can update their address by checking the boxes in the Elections Canada section of their tax return or through Elections Canada's Online Voter Registration Service.
As part of data-sharing agreements, Elections Canada may share voter information with provinces and territories for provincial and territorial elections. This improves the accuracy of the lists of electors, reduces duplication and saves taxpayer money.
The privacy of all personal information is protected by the Canada Elections Act and the Privacy Act. Elections Canada takes precautions to ensure that the information in the Register is kept secure and is used for authorized purposes only.Q4: What happens when I register?
We add your information to the National Register of Electors, the database of people qualified to vote in Canadian federal elections. During federal elections and referendums, we will send you a voter information card that tells you where, when, and the ways to vote. If you register in advance, you will save time at the polls.
Q5: Do I have to register again during future federal elections?
No. Once your name is in the National Register of Electors, you stay registered. If you move, you can update your address information online to keep your registration up to date. If you have legally changed your name, please contact us.
Q6: Where did you get my information?
We receive information from the Canada Revenue Agency, if you consented on your income tax return to share your information with us. We also receive information on potential electors from most provincial and territorial driver's licence bureaus. We use this information to keep potential electors' records up to date and to invite them to register if eligible.
Q7: I'm not a Canadian citizen. What should I do with the letter?
You must be a Canadian citizen to vote. This letter is not an invitation to vote; please dispose of it.
The National Register of Electors is a permanent, continually updated database of Canadians who are qualified to vote in federal elections. To maintain the Register, we receive information from the Canada Revenue Agency (about those who consented on their income tax return to share their information with us) and from most provincial and territorial driver's licence bureaus.
All individuals listed in the National Register of Electors have made a citizenship declaration, either as part of the registration process or in a consent question on a federal form (for example, by ticking a box on their tax return).
Q8: I just used the Online Voter Registration Service to register. Why am I getting this letter?
It is possible that you completed your registration online after the letter was prepared. You can use the Online Voter Registration Service to check that you are registered or update the address information you provided.
Q9: I am a student. Which address should I use to register to vote?
You should register to vote using the address you consider your place of residence or home address.
If you are a student, this can be:
- where you live while at school OR
- where you live while not at school (e.g. with your parents)
You must have ID with that address to register and vote. For more information on student voting, visit our website.
Q10: What's the difference between a mailing address and a residential address?
Your mailing address is the one you commonly use to receive mail and may include a post office box number, rural route or other specific mailing information. We need this address during elections to mail you information about when and where you should go to vote.
Your residential address is where you live and usually consists of a building number, street name, municipality name, province and postal code. We need this information to determine the correct polling station to assign you to vote in a federal election.
Q11: I checked the box on my income tax form to consent to sharing my information with Elections Canada. Am I not already registered?
We need to confirm that you're qualified to vote (18 years old and a Canadian citizen) before adding your information to the National Register of Electors.
Q12. When I do my taxes, should I always check the box to consent to sharing my information with Elections Canada?
If you are Canadian citizen, yes. Once you are added to the National Register of Electors, checking the box every year helps keep your address information up to date.
Q13. If I register to vote with Elections Canada, does that also register me to vote in provincial, territorial and municipal elections?
We have agreements to share voter registration information with provincial, territorial and some municipal electoral agencies. However, it's always best to check with your local electoral agency to make sure you are registered.
If you want, you can opt out of having Elections Canada share your voter registration information with other electoral agencies.
Q14. Are voter registration updates made through my provincial or territorial electoral agency transferred to the National Register of Electors?
The Register is regularly updated using information from several sources, such as provincial and territorial electoral agencies after an electoral event. However, there can be a delay of several weeks or months before election-related voter information is transferred to Elections Canada and reflected in the Register; therefore, it is best to verify or update your information directly with Elections Canada.
Q15: How can I be sure that the voter registration letter I received is really from Elections Canada?
Elections Canada always sends voter registration letters to potential new electors by mail. We never ask you to share personal information or answer security questions via email or text message.
Before entering and sending any personal information online, make sure that the page is secure by looking for the security seal (closed padlock) and "https://" in the URL address field at the top of your browser. You will see these security features when using Elections Canada's Online Voter Registration Service.
The privacy of all information in the National Register of Electors (the Register) is protected by the Canada Elections Act and the Privacy Act. Elections Canada takes precautions to make sure that the information in the Register is kept secure and used for authorized purposes only.
Q16: Why am I being asked to give my email address or phone number through the Online Voter Registration Service?
Providing this information is optional. We ask you to provide your email address or phone number so that we can follow up with you if more information is needed to process your request.
Q17: I now live at an address that is different from the one printed on the letter. Which address should I use to register online?
When you access the Online Voter Registration Service, you should enter the address that is printed in the middle of the letter you received. On the Results page, you will be given the option to update your home and mailing address. Click on the link, Update your home address or mailing address here, and enter your new address.
Q18: What if I am unable to register online?
Check your internet connection, the web page address you typed and that the personal information you entered is accurate and complete. Make any required corrections and submit it again.
If you still can't register, call us at 1-800-463-6868 for assistance.
Q19: I received a letter for a person who does not live here. What should I do with it?
If you have received someone else's mail, you can write "Moved" or "Unknown" on the envelope and put it in a Canada Post mailbox. The envelope will then be returned to Elections Canada, and we will take the appropriate action.
Q20: I received a letter for someone who passed away. Why? What should I do with the letter?
If you received a letter addressed to a person who has passed away, you don't need to do anything. Elections Canada has agreements to regularly receive files that include the name of people who are over the age of 18 and whose death has been registered. Once we receive this information, we match it against the Register and remove the name of electors who are confirmed to be deceased from the Register.
Unfortunately, the information on this person had not yet been received at the time this mailing was prepared. Please disregard and dispose of the letter.
Q21: What is a TTY?
A TTY is a special device that lets people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired use the telephone to communicate by enabling them to type messages back and forth to one another instead of talking and listening. A TTY is needed at both ends of the conversation to communicate. Elections Canada's TTY service line is 1-800-361-8935.