Civic Duty: A Guide to Voting in the 2025 Federal Election

Written by Theressa Jabbour

Header and Thumbnail photo of the House of Commons chamber by the Parliament of Canada


(Election information is accurate as of Wednesday, 9th of April, 2025)


Federal politics have been a hot topic all across Canada these past few months, so news of the upcoming federal election should not have come as a surprise to Saint Mary’s University students. Following former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation in early January, Mark Carney was selected as the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister on the 14th of March, Carney announced the 2025 federal election just one week later. With 36 days for candidates to campaign, the voting period will run until election day on the 28th of April. If you feel you need a guide for this process, look no further than this article. 


The Political System:

Canada’s political system is referred to as a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. The three branches of its parliament are the Crown, the Senate and the House of Commons. This federal election will see voters across the country’s 343 ridings elect their representatives as members of the House of Commons. The party holding the most seats in the House becomes the government, with majority or minority designations depending on that party passing a certain threshold of seats. The leader of the winning party will then become the prime minister. The current federally registered parties in Canada with sitting members of parliament are the Liberal Party of Canada, the Conservative Party of Canada, the Bloc Québécois, the New Democratic Party, and the Green Party of Canada. 

Photo of the House of Commons foyer by the Parliament of Canada 

What You Need to Know About Voting:

One thing to note is the new boundaries for electoral districts in Nova Scotia, which took effect when this election was called. The province is now divided into Acadia-Anapolis, Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish, Central Nova, Cumberland-Colchester, Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, Halifax, Halifax West, Kings-Hants, Sackville-Bedford-Preston, South Shore-St. Margarets, and Sydney-Glace Bay. To check your electoral district, you can use this tool on the Elections Canada website. 



To be eligible to vote, voters need to be Canadian citizens and be at least 18 years old by election day. Voter information cards will be mailed by the 11th to those on the list of electors. To check if you are registered to vote, visit the Online Voter Registration Service. Students can vote for the candidate in the electoral district they consider home, which could be anywhere, as long as it matches the address on their ID. 



There are four primary ways to vote in this election. The first is, of course, voting on election day at your assigned polling station, which is detailed on your voter information card. For those who would like to vote ahead of election day, you can apply to vote by mail by the 22nd of April, or vote early at any Elections Canada office by the 22nd of April. You can also vote early on advance polling days from the 18th to the 21st of April between 9 am and 9 pm at the station specified on your voter card. One additional way SMU students can vote is right here on campus, by special ballot. SMU will have its own polling station in room LI 135 of the Patrick Power Library, similar to the setup during the Provincial election a few months ago. It will operate from the 13th to the 16th, 12 pm to 6 pm on the first day and 9 am to 9 pm all days after that, providing students with an accessible location to vote, especially during the busy exam season. All you need is your ID! 

Map of the Halifax Regional Municipality electoral districts by Elections Canada 

Of relevance to students who live in the Halifax area, the Halifax by-election, called on the 2nd of March following Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore’s resignation from federal politics last year, has been cancelled, with residents now voting for their candidate in the federal election instead. The complete list of candidates running in this election can be accessed on the Elections Canada website. Simply filter by electoral district or type in your address to find the information for the candidates running in your district. For example, if your place of residence is the same as SMU’s, then your electoral district would be Halifax, and the candidates in your riding would be Mark Boudreau for the Conservative Party of Canada, Amethyste Hamel-Gregory for the Green Party of Canada, Shannon Miedema for the Liberal Party of Canada, Lisa Roberts for the New Democratic Party, and Maricar Aliasut for the People's Party of Canada. 


One way to be prepared for election day is to independently research the candidates in your electoral district. Most candidates’ platforms can be found online, on social media, or through their political parties’ websites, but it is important to keep in mind that misinformation can sometimes be hard to identify, so using a variety of sources and not relying on any one medium can help defend against it.


Why Voting is Important:

SMUSA’s VP Advocacy, Prajwal Shetty, has a few words to share with SMU students. Shetty believes “voting gives students the power to shape the future they’ll graduate into.” There are several key issues at the federal level that directly affect students, including affordability, financial aid, and employment opportunities. “When students vote, they amplify their voice,” and can help ensure that the federal government pays attention to student issues. SMUSA’s partnership and work with the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is a direct example of how student voices can make a difference. 

Voting in a federal election can feel intimidating, but it does not have to be. Elections Canada has a helpful FAQs section, an infographic, and informational videos that can help answer any questions you may have. You can also contact Elections Canada directly for assistance by calling 1-800-463-6868. Whether you’ve voted before or are marking your first time, it is always wise to be informed. You can consult ElectoFacts if you believe you’ve seen false or misleading information about the election, and read about the whole process on Elections Canada’s educational page. 

While this article provides you with a brief overview of the 2025 federal election, it is important to conduct your own research regarding the candidates and political parties. You can visit their respective websites to understand their platforms and use a variety of sources to decide on your vote. As a Canadian citizen, it is your civic duty to vote; wield that power wisely.

Jacob Butler