1 Canadians vote in elections
1.1 Members of Parliament/MPs) can stand for election/re-election as many times as they wish
1.2 Federal Elections held 3rd Monday of October every four years
1.3 Any Canadian citizen over the age of 18 can stand as a candidate in a federal election
1.4 Each district is represented by the candidate holding the most votes in an election


2 Voting
2.1 Elections Canada uses the National Register of Electors to produce the voters’ lists for referenda and federal elections.
2.2 National Register of Electors: a permanent database of qualifying Canadian citizens
2.3 You do not need to be on the National Register of Electors or to have a voter information card to be able to vote
2.4 Electors may vote on the election day or in advance


3 After an election
3.1 The Governor-General will ask the leader of the political party to become Prime Minister
3.2 A majority government occurs when the ruling party holds more than half of the House of Common seats
3.3 If they have less than half, they form a minority government
3.4 Cabinet ministers, who run the departments of the federal government, are appointed by the Prime Minister
3.5 The parties that did not succeed in the election are called the opposition parties


4 Secret ballot
4.1 Canadian elections are held under a secret ballot system
4.2 As soon as polling stations are closed, the votes are counted by election officers, and the results are broadcast on the media