Guide to Canada’s 2025 federal election

Be heard, be counted and make an impact!

Prime Minister Mark Carney has called a federal election for April 28, and if you’re thinking, “Wait, another election? We just had the Ontario Elections and the IGNITE Election!” — you’re not alone. But as a post-secondary student, your vote matters more than you think.

April is a hectic time for Humber Polytechnic and University of Guelph-Humber students. Between finals exams, assignments and celebrating the end of the academic year at the IGNITE Hype Hall, we know you have a lot on your plate. But voting in the federal election is a chance to have a say in issues that affect you now and in the future.

Election talk can get confusing fast, but don’t worry, we’ve got you. Here’s a quick and easy breakdown of how Canada’s federal election works, how you can make your vote count and how to make it a fun process.

How does the federal election work?

A man looking confused counting with his fingers. Math formulas are popping on the screen. — *Via GIPHY*

This might initially sound confusing, but you don’t actually vote directly for the prime minister. Instead, you vote for your local member of parliament (MP). There are 343 ridings up for grabs across the country, each electing one MP.

In our case, the Lakeshore campus is located in the Etobicoke-Lakeshore riding, the North campus in the Etobicoke-North riding and the Downtown campus in the Toronto Centre riding. The party with the most MPs gets to form the government, and their leader becomes the prime minister.

You can look up your riding on the Elections Canada website.

The main party leaders are Mark Carney for the Liberal Party of Canada, Pierre Poilievre for the Conservative Party of Canada, Jagmeet Singh for the New Democratic Party, Yves-François Blanchet for the Bloc Québécois and Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault, co-leaders for the Green Party of Canada.

Canada uses a “first-past-the-post” electoral system. This is an expression that comes from British horse racing. Just like a horse race, whoever passes the post first wins, even if it’s just by a nose. In elections, this means the candidate with the most votes wins the seat, even without a majority — it’s winner, take-all!

Election day is on Monday, April 28, but in fact, you don’t have to wait until then to vote. But before we get into that, let’s understand what you need in order to vote.

How to vote explained

A woman sitting on a red chair in a TV show and pressing a red button with her left foot to turn the chair around. — *Via GIPHY*

Now, let’s get to business — can you vote? How do you vote? Where do you vote? Let me break it down.

To vote, you must be a Canadian citizen 18 years of age or older on election day. You’ll also need to be able to prove your identity and address at the polling stations. Here’s a list of IDs you can use to vote.

If you’ve voted in previous elections, chances are you’re already registered. If this is the case, no stress — Elections Canada will mail you your voter registration card with your assigned polling station. In case this is your first election or you’ve moved recently, you’ll need to register or update your voter information.

Check out this website to check if you’re registered, to register or to update your address information.

Now, let’s get to your voting options.

You can vote on election day at your assigned polling station — pro tip: it can get busy! You can also vote early at advance polling stations from April 18 to 21, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. A third option is that you can cast your ballot by mail, using a special ballot, by April 22, 6 p.m.

Choosing an option that fits your busy student schedule can save you time and stress. So, take the time to consider all of them.

Is the federal election important to post-secondary students?

Two men are sitting behind a desk in a news broadcast setup. They look at each other, and one says, “It’s important, bruh.” The same sentence pops on the screen. — *Via GIPHY*

Yes, yes and yes! YOUR vote TRULY matters and this is why you should care.

The federal government not only shapes the direction of the economy and healthcare but also of the post-secondary system.

While the provincial government is responsible for funding post-secondary institutions, the federal government plays a role in student loans, like OSAP, housing affordability and international student visa regulations.

Voting is a direct way to create changes in student issues, ensure your voices are heard and influence policies that affect your present and the future of your peers.

How to make voting fun

The word “VOTE” is moving around and a black cat is following it with its eyes. — *Via GIPHY*

We all know that voting is a crucial part of being a responsible citizen, but the reality is that it’s not always the most exciting activity. However, there are plenty of ways to inject some fun into the experience.

Spring has finally arrived, bringing with it warmer weather. So, gather your friends, head out to vote and enjoy the beautiful sunshine. You can also plan to have a picnic to celebrate fulfilling your democratic duty. Trust me, there’s nothing quite like a sweet treat to toast your participation in shaping the future.

And speaking of fun, election season sparks a wave of hilarious memes. Politics can be entertaining at times. Share your favourite memes and TikToks with friends and challenge each other to find the funniest ones. You’ll be having a good laugh while staying informed!

If you want to dive deeper into the electoral process and support your candidate, consider volunteering. After picking your candidate, head to their campaign office and join the team as a volunteer. It’s a great way to get involved and meet like-minded people who are just as passionate about the issues as you are.

And if you’d prefer to earn some cash while making a difference, Elections Canada is hiring more than 200,000 temporary staff during the elections. Check out their website for all the details.

Two men wearing Canada’s accessories are laughing. — *Via GIPHY*

That’s all from us on the Canadian federal elections. Now it’s on you to decide on the future of the country. We know elections can feel like an information overload when you are a post-secondary student. Plus, it’s easy to get confused about eligibility, ID requirements and voting locations.

However, don’t let confusion or apathy stop you — if you don’t do politics, politics will do you! Research, plan, follow our guide and make your vote count on April 28!

Voting is more than just a checkmark on a piece of paper. The decisions you make today will shape your life. Whether it’s about affordability, student loans, climate change or health care, your voice matters!

Be heard, be counted and make an impact.

Feature image courtesy of Element5 Digital via Unsplash.

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