Today’s election will decide which party will run the country’s government: the Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, who want to retake power after over ten years in opposition, or the Liberal Party, which is presently in office under Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Here’s what to anticipate throughout the voting process and following the announcement of the results.
Who votes and what’s on the ballot?
With one exception, all Canadian citizens, including those incarcerated and living abroad, are able to vote. During their ten-year term, the chief electoral officer—a nonpartisan person designated by Parliament to oversee the election process—is not permitted to cast a ballot.
In order to preserve the political neutrality of the position, the governor general, who has all of King Charles’ authority and duties as Canada’s head of state, customarily abstains from voting.
The only responsibility for voters is to choose their local representative in the House of Commons, which is Canada’s parliamentary assembly. Due to population growth, there will be 343 members in the next Parliament, five more than in the previous election.
