Canada Election 2025: 5 Surprising Things Americans Might Not Know About How Canada Votes

Canadians are heading to the polls on April 28, 2025, in a tightly contested federal election that will decide the country’s next Prime Minister. The main battle is between incumbent Prime Minister Mark Carney, leader of the Liberal Party, and Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the opposition Conservative Party. The results are expected to be announced soon after polls close.

While Canada shares many democratic values with the United States, its electoral system comes with a number of unusual quirks that may surprise American readers. Here are five things you probably didn’t know about the Canadian parliamentary elections:

‍1. Even Inmates Can Vote

In Canada, all citizens have the right to vote including convicted criminals serving time in prison. This stands in contrast to the U.S., where many states restrict voting rights for incarcerated individuals. In Canada, the principle of universal suffrage applies even behind bars.

2. Two Canadians Who Don’t Vote — by Design or Tradition

Despite universal voting rights, there are two notable exceptions. The Chief Electoral Officer, who oversees the federal election process, is constitutionally barred from voting in any election during their 10-year term to maintain strict neutrality. The Governor General of Canada, who represents King Charles III (Canada’s constitutional monarch), is allowed to vote but traditionally abstains to preserve the impartiality of the office.

3. A Growing House of Commons — But Sparse in the North

Canada’s population growth has led to an expansion of its federal electoral map. In 2021, there were 338 parliamentary constituencies. In 2025, there are 343 seats up for grabs. However, Canada’s vast northern territories Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut continue to have just one seat each, reflecting their small populations despite their immense landmass.

4. Voter Cards Are Helpful — But Not Mandatory

Most Canadians receive a voter information card in the mail ahead of the election, which lists their polling station and other key details. But here's the twist: the card isn’t required to vote. Voters can show up with other forms of ID, though bringing the card makes the process smoother.

5. Canada’s PM Doesn’t Have to Be an MP (At First)

In Canada, a person can become Prime Minister without being elected as a Member of Parliament at least initially. Mark Carney, a former central banker and the current Prime Minister, is making his first-ever run for a seat in Parliament in this election. He’s not the first to do this Charles Tupper, Arthur Meighen, and John Turner all became Prime Minister without holding a seat in the House of Commons at the time of their appointment.

As April 28 approaches, all eyes are on whether Canada will stay the course with Carney’s Liberals or shift direction under Poilievre’s Conservatives. One thing is certain: Canadian democracy runs a tight, clean, and sometimes quirky ship and the world is watching.

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Source: NDTV