Now that an Ontario election is officially happening this year, you might be wondering how to cast your ballot.
Well, there's a lot you need to know about when it comes to how to vote in the provincial election.
Thursday, February 27, 2025, is election day in Ontario, and you'll vote for your Member of Provincial Parliament.
Elections Ontario has revealed everything you need to know about voting in the provincial election, whether by mail, at advanced polls, or on election day.
Important dates
- January 29 to February 21: submit your application to vote by mail by 6 p.m. ET on February 21
- January 30 to February 26: vote before election day at your local election office, or request a home visit, until 6 p.m. ET on February 26
- February 17: last day to confirm, update or add your voter information to receive a voter information card in the mail
- February 17 to 19: election officials will visit participating hospitals with voting kits
- February 17 to 22: voter information cards — with information about when and where to vote — will be mailed out
- February 20 to 22: vote at any advance voting location in your electoral district
- February 27: vote on election day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET
Eligibility to vote
To be eligible to vote in the Ontario election, you must be:
- 18 years of age or older
- a Canadian citizen
- a resident of Ontario
Vote by mail
To vote by mail, you need to complete a Vote by Mail application and provide a copy of at least one piece of government-issued ID with your name and home address before February 21 at 6 p.m. ET.
Then, a voting kit with a ballot will be mailed to you.
Elections Ontario must receive your completed voting kit by 6 p.m. on February 27 for your vote to be counted.
Vote at advanced polls
You can vote at any advanced voting location in your electoral district from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET on February 20, 21 and 22.
You'll be asked to show your ID to an election official who will check if you're on the voter list.
If you're not on the list, the election official will add you to the voter list and ask you to sign a declaration.
Once you're confirmed to be on the voter list, here's what will happen:
- an election official will issue you a ballot
- you'll go behind a voting screen to mark your ballot
- you'll mark an X in the circle beside the name of your chosen candidate
- you'll place your marked ballot into the secrecy folder and take it to an election official operating a tabulator
Vote on election day
You can vote in person on election day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET at your assigned voting location based on your home address.
You'll be asked to show your ID to an election official who will check if you're on the voter list.
If you're not on the list, the election official will add you to the voter list and ask you to sign a declaration.
Once you're confirmed to be on the voter list, here's what will happen:
- an election official will issue you a ballot
- you'll go behind a voting screen to mark your ballot
- you'll mark an X in the circle beside the name of your chosen candidate
If you're at a tech-based voting location, you'll put your marked ballot into the secrecy folder and take it to an election official operating a tabulator.
If you're at a voting location without technology, you'll fold your ballot and place it into a ballot box yourself.
ID needed to vote
You must bring your voter information card and one piece of ID with your name to receive a ballot when you go to vote.
You can still vote if you do not receive a voter information card but you need to show one piece of ID with your name and home address.
Acceptable IDs include:
- Ontario driver's licence
- Ontario health card
- Ontario motor vehicle permit
- Income tax notice of assessment
- Social Insurance Number confirmation letter
- Bank account or credit card statement
- Cheque stub, pay receipt or T4 issued by a person's employer
- Residential mortgage, lease, or rental statement
- Letter of Confirmation of Residence
- Property tax assessment or bill from a municipality in Ontario
- Canadian passport
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