Canadians will head to the polls on April 28 to choose the country’s next government. The vote will determine whether the Liberal Party, now led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, holds onto power or if the Conservatives, under Pierre Poilievre, will return to office after nearly a decade in opposition.
Here’s your complete guide to how the election works, who’s voting, and what happens next.
Who can vote?
Every Canadian citizen aged 18 or older on election day is eligible to vote, including prisoners and Canadians living abroad. The only exception is the chief electoral officer, who is barred from voting during their 10-year term. Additionally, in keeping with tradition, the governor general—the King’s representative in Canada—does not vote to preserve the neutrality of the role.
What are voters deciding?
Voters will choose one Member of Parliament (MP) to represent their local riding in the House of Commons. There will be 343 seats up for grabs—five more than in the last election, reflecting population growth.
Canada uses a “first past the post” system: the candidate with the most votes in each riding wins the seat, even if they don’t receive a majority.
This election is solely for federal Parliament—no referendums or votes for other offices will be held.
Who becomes Prime Minister?
Canadians do not directly elect the prime minister. The party that wins the most seats—whether a majority or a plurality—typically forms the government.
Its leader becomes prime minister, subject to the governor general’s formal invitation.
Currently, Mark Carney, who recently succeeded Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, is running in his first election, seeking to represent a middle-class Ottawa suburb.
The parties in the running
Three major parties are fielding candidates nationwide:
- Liberal Party (incumbent)
- Conservative Party
- New Democratic Party (NDP)
The NDP has never formed a federal government, and polls suggest its current support is at a 25-year low. The Bloc Québécois is also contesting seats, but only in Quebec.
Key candidates and and their policies
Liberal leader Mark Carney highlighted his economic crisis management experience, promising strong leadership against Trump but gave limited policy details.
Conservative Pierre Poilievre pushed tough-on-crime measures, vowed to defund English CBC while preserving French services, and called for rapid pipeline approvals to reduce US reliance.
NDP’s Jagmeet Singh emphasized social justice and affordability, while Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet opposed new pipelines and championed Quebec’s independence.
When will results be known?
Canada spans six time zones, but polling hours are staggered so most close by 9.30 pm ET. British Columbia is the last to finish, closing at 10 pm ET.
Ballots are paper-based and counted by hand at each polling station, with no machines involved. Elections Canada publishes results online in real time as they are reported from each riding.
Special ballots from mail voters, the military, prisoners, and overseas Canadians are counted after election day, following verification.
What happens if no party wins a majority?
While Canada rarely forms European-style coalitions, minority governments are common. These usually rely on informal deals with other parties to pass legislation. If they lose a confidence vote—often tied to a budget—they can be brought down, triggering another election.
For example, in 1979, a minority Progressive Conservative government collapsed after just 66 days.
In the last Parliament, the NDP supported the Liberals in exchange for certain policy concessions but did not join the government.
How to vote?
Most voters will have received a Voter Information Card in the mail, listing their polling place and options for advance voting, which runs for four days starting Friday. But the card isn’t essential—voters can still cast a ballot with appropriate ID.
Voters away from home can apply for a mail-in ballot until Tuesday, April 22. These ballots must arrive at Elections Canada in Ottawa by 6 pm ET on April 28 to be counted.
Voting options include:
- On election day
- During advance voting
- At any Elections Canada office
- By mail
This federal election comes at a pivotal moment in Canadian politics, shaped by Justin Trudeau’s surprise exit after nearly a decade in power. His departure has triggered a wave of uncertainty and transition within the Liberal Party, now helmed by Mark Carney, a political newcomer but a seasoned economist.
Beyond party rivalries, this election will shape Canada’s course on critical issues such as immigration, climate policy, economic resilience, and global diplomacy. One of the major foreign policy challenges will be managing relations with the US under Donald Trump, who has made provocative remarks about turning Canada into the “51st US state” and ignited tariff disputes.
The outcome will also impact Canada’s strained ties with India, which have been tense since Canada accused Indian agents of involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has strongly denied any role in the incident, calling the allegations baseless and politically motivated.
