Advance polls open across the country Friday morning
Jenna Benchetrit | CBC News | Posted: April 18, 2025 8:00 AM | Last Updated: April 18
Polling stations busiest between 10 a.m. and noon, says Elections Canada
With just 10 days to go until election day, advance polls open Friday across the country for those who want to vote before April 28.
Registered voters can cast an early ballot at their assigned polling station between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. from April 18-21.
Your voter information card, which registered voters should have received in the mail by April 11, will tell you where your assigned polling station is for advance voting. (Your election day station could be at a different address.)
Registered voters can also search for their advance polling station here or call Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868.
Unlike provincial elections when you can vote at any polling station in your province, during a federal election you must vote at your assigned station.
You can also vote by mail or in person by special ballot at your nearest Elections Canada office until 6 p.m. on April 22.
WATCH | What ID do you need to bring when you vote?:
If you aren't sure you're registered, you can check using Elections Canada's online voter registration service.
Elections Canada also has information for those voting under exceptional circumstances including people who are homeless, serving a prison sentence or living in a long-term care facility.
For those who want to avoid lines, advance polling stations are usually busiest between 10 a.m. and noon, according to Elections Canada. The busy period continues between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., but traffic typically slows after that.
Earlier this month, numbers released by Elections Canada showed 130,000 Canadians had already voted by special ballot. The agency issues special ballots to Canadians who don't want to wait until election day or for advance polls.