Election type

Canada, Elections Act (S.C. 2000, c. 9) last amended on 2019-06-13, accessed 26 October 2019

Electors Resident Outside Canada

220. The definitions in this section apply in this Division.

- elector means an elector who resides outside Canada. (électeur)

- register means the register referred to in section 222. (registre)

[2000, c. 9, s. 220; 2018, c. 31, s. 151.]

Inclusion in register of electors resident outside Canada

221. An elector may vote under this Division if

(a) his or her application for registration and special ballot is received by the special voting rules administrator in the National Capital Region no later than 6:00 p.m. on the 6th day before polling day; and

(b) his or her name is entered on the register.

[2000, c. 9, s. 221; 2018, c. 31, s. 152.]

227. (1) After approving an application for registration and special ballot and after the issue of the writs, the Chief Electoral Officer shall provide a special ballot to every elector whose name is entered in the register.

Voting by special ballot:

(2) An elector shall vote by special ballot by

(a) writing the name of the candidate of his or her choice on the ballot;

(b) placing the ballot in an inner envelope and sealing it;

(c) signing the declaration prescribed by the Chief Electoral Officer; and

(d) placing the inner envelope and the declaration —

if it is not on the outer envelope — in the outer envelope and sealing it.

228 An elector shall send the sealed outer envelope to the Chief Electoral Officer

(a) by mail or any other means; or

(b) by delivering it to a Canadian Embassy, Canadian High Commission or Canadian Consular Office, to a Canadian Forces base or to any place that the Chief Electoral Officer may designate.

Canada, Elections Canada, Registration and Voting Processes for Canadians Who Live Abroad, accessed 6 January 2022

“On January 11, 2019, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that a Canadian elector living abroad who has previously resided in Canada is entitled to vote by special ballot in federal elections, regardless of how long they have been living abroad.”