Here's what voters in Ottawa and eastern Ontario need to know to vote in Monday's federal election
Voters in Ottawa, eastern Ontario and western Quebec head to the polls on Monday to cast a ballot in the federal election.
Elections Canada warns voting may take longer due to COVID-19 precautions and fewer employees at polling stations during the pandemic.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at what you need to know to cast a ballot in the 44th general election.
CANDIDATES
Voters will cast a ballot for a Member of Parliament in their riding.
For information on the candidates in your riding, visit CTVNewsOttawa.ca.
POLLING HOURS/LOCATIONS
Polling stations will be open in Ottawa, eastern Ontario and western Quebec from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday.
To find your polling station, check your voter information card or visit the Elections Canada website. Elections Canada says you must vote at your assigned polling station.
If you are looking for a time to vote with shorter line-ups, Elections Canada says mid-day "tends to be" when things are quieter at polling stations.
WHO CAN VOTE
To vote, you must be a Canadian citizen and at least 18-years-old on Election Day.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO VOTE
Elections Canada says when you go to vote remember to:
- Bring your voter information card with you, along with accepted ID, to make the voting process easier when you go to vote.
There are three options to prove your identity and address when you cast your ballot:
- Option One: Show your driver's licence or any other card issued by a Canadian government with your photo, name and current address
- Option Two: Show two pieces of ID. Both must have your name and at least one must have your current address. Examples include voter information card and bank statement or utility bill and student ID card
- Option Three: You can still vote if you declare your identity and address in writing and have someone who knows you and who is assigned to your polling station vouch for you.
COVID-19 SAFETY MEASURES
Voters must wear a mask inside the polling stations. All polling station workers will be wearing a mask.
"Electors must wear a mask as required by the province, territory or region, or landlord leasing the polling place to Elections Canada," says Elections Canada on its website. "If you forget to bring your own mask, we will provide you with one."
Elections Canada warns voters who refuse to wear a mask will be turned away from the polling station if they do not have a medical exemption.
Each polling station will have hand sanitizer, and the poll worker will be behind a plexiglass barrier.
Elections Canada says COVID-19 protocols could slow down the voting process on Monday.
"It really depends on what turnout numbers look like on Monday," said Elections Canada spokesperson Matthew McKenna in an interview on Newstalk 580 CFRA's Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron.
"We have had to reduce the number of staff at Elections Canada polls, and that's really in order to facilitate physical distancing."
A single-use pencil will be provided to each elector to mark your ballot.
Elections Canada will not ask for proof of vaccination.
NO PHOTOS WITH YOUR BALLOT
Elections Canada says you cannot take a photo of or a selfie with your marked ballot.
"Taking a picture of a marked ballot—yours or anyone else's—is illegal because it violates the secrecy of the vote under the Canada Elections Act. It's also a violation of the Act to publish a photo of a marked ballot in any way, including on social media," said Elections Canada on its website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.