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FEDERAL ELECTION 101

The Trent Durham Student Association is encouraging students to exercise their democratic rights and vote in the federal election on October 21st. TDSA will remain non-partisan and no formal endorsements will be made on behalf of the organization. We are here to ensure you have the necessary tools to make an informed decision on election day and will be campaigning in the hallways all week to 

Many of you will have never participated in an election before. This is the perfect time to get in the loop! The process might seem a little intimating, but voting is a simple process that has a decisive effect on your everyday life. We are here to make the process as smooth as possible and offer any support we can.

ELECTION DAY: OCTOBER 21st 

You can vote on October 21st or in advance of Election Day at advanced polling stations. For Durham Region residents, polling stations can be found at a number of accessible locations.

WHAT ARE ELECTIONS ALL ABOUT?

In case you didn’t know, when a federal election is called, you vote to elect a member of Parliament to represent you in the House of Commons, where he or she will debate and pass laws on your behalf.

Canada is divided into 338 ridings. During an election, one Member of Parliament is elected to represent the people of that riding. Each Member of Parliament has a seat in the House of Commons.  You can find your riding by clicking here.

Candidates can represent a political party, or can be independent, meaning they have no association with a political party. After all the votes are counted for each riding, the political party with the most seats in the House of Commons usually forms the government. The leader of that party becomes the Prime Minister of Canada.

HOW TO VOTE

Identification:

You must prove your identity and address to register and vote in the federal election. Here are your ID options when you are voting in person - at an Elections Canada office, at advanced polls or on Election Day.

Show one piece of government-issued ID (must have your photo, name, and current address)

·      Driver’s License

·      Provincial or Territorial ID card

OR

Show two pieces of ID (one piece with your name and one piece with your name and current address)

·      Health Card and Phone Bill

·      Debit Card and Bank Statement

Voting Options:

·      Vote on election day - Monday, October 19th, 2015

·      Vote on advanced voting days - October 9, 10, 11, and 12

·      Vote at one of 400 Elections Canada offices

·      Vote by mail

To vote, you must be registered. Click here to see if you are registered. 

Polls:

Polls are open for 12 hours. If you're registered, you will get a voter information card by mail. It tells you when and where to vote. You should receive it by October 1.

VOTING FACTS

Ballots:

During the campaign period you will become very familiar with Justin Trudeau, Tom Muclair, Elizabeth May, and Stephen Harper, the leaders of the largest political parties in Canada. However, you will not see their names on the ballots when you go to vote because they likely do not represent your riding. On the ballot, you will see names of the representatives from their respective parties.

Voter Turnout: 

Less than 40% of people between the ages of 18-24 voted during the previous federal election and there are over two million (approximately 2,023,191) post-secondary students across Canada. The population of Canada is over 35 million people. Now imagine if every post-secondary student in Canada voted on October 19th. Together we are strong. We (students) have the collective power to influence change in the upcoming federal election. 

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