Voting: as easy as one, two, three, four
A federal election is coming up on April 28, and many students will get the chance to exercise their right to vote for the first time ever! It鈥檚 an exciting time, but it can also feel daunting if you鈥檙e new to participating in the democratic process.
But don鈥檛 worry! has made it super easy for students to vote with on-campus polling stations from April 13-16. And we鈥檝e got a quick guide to everything you need to know about voting this April in four easy steps!
Step 1: Decide which riding you will vote in
Students can vote using the address they consider home, or where they ordinarily live. For some, this will be the address where they live while at school; for others, it may be another address, such as where they live when school is out.
For example, if you鈥檙e a student who normally lives in Calgary and will head back West when school is out, but is spending the academic year at Acadia, you will have the option to vote either in the riding your Calgary address falls into, or the riding of the address you live at while at Acadia.
If you decide to vote in the riding of your home address (and not at Acadia), you will only be able to vote at polling stations with special ballots (You can learn all about special ballots ). You can vote by special ballot by visiting the On Campus Voting Station from April 13-16 or by visiting any Elections Canada returning office until April 22nd. The nearest Elections Canada Returning office is located at 495 Main Street, Kentville N.S, B4N 0A0.
If you鈥檒l be using your campus address to vote, you鈥檒l need a piece of ID that includes this address. An easy example is the 鈥淟etter of Confirmation of Residence鈥� form found . You can pick up your letter from the Residence Life office, which is open Monday-Friday from 8:30-4:30.
Next up is registration!
Step 2: Register
To register to vote in the riding you鈥檝e decided to vote in, you will need a piece of ID with your address in that riding on it. Then you can online until April 22.
But if you miss the April 22 deadline, you鈥檙e not out of luck! You can register at your polling station when you go to vote on advance polling days or on election day.
Step 3: Make a plan
Now that you know which riding you鈥檙e voting in and are all registered, it鈥檚 time to make your plan about where and when you鈥檒l vote. Beyond election day itself, there are some great options for students to make it super easy to vote!
On-campus voting
Before election day, students will have a chance to vote on campus from April 13-16. It鈥檚 the easiest way for students to participate in the election!
A polling station will be set up in the Michener Lounge in the Students鈥� Union Building (15 Horton Avenue, Wolfville B4P 2R5) at these times:
April 13: 12鈥痯m - 6鈥痯m
April 14: 9鈥痑m - 9鈥痯m
April 15: 9鈥痑m - 9鈥痯m
April 16: 9鈥痑m - 9鈥痯m
For more info on voting on campus, watch all about it.
This is one of the two options for voting in a riding at an address outside of your Acadia address. The other is by visiting an Elections Canada returning office until April 22nd.
Advance Polling
Yes, it is different than voting on campus! General advance voting is available all across the country, not just on university and college campuses. To find out where your advance polling station is, enter your postal code into the . Note that your advance polling station is different than your election day polling station.
You will be able to vote at your polling station鈥�from 9鈥痑.m. to 9鈥痯.尘.鈥痮苍:
Friday, April鈥�18
Saturday, April鈥�19
Sunday, April鈥�20, or
Monday, April鈥�21
Election day 鈥� April 28
Your last chance to vote in the election is April 28!
On election day, there will be a polling station on campus from 8:30am to 8:30pm, on the first floor of the Students鈥� Union Building.
Note that this polling station will only be for on campus students. If you live off campus, you can go to the and enter your postal code to find your correct polling station.
Step 4: Go vote!
So, now you know which riding you鈥檒l be voting in, and when and where you鈥檒l cast your ballot. Time to get your stuff together and head out to participate in our democracy!
You will need to bring either:
- One of these pieces of ID:
- your driver's licence
- any other card issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial/territorial or local) with your photo, name and current address
OR
- Two pieces of ID from
And that鈥檚 it! You鈥檝e done your civic duty. All that鈥檚 left is to tune in to election night on the news and watch the numbers roll in.