Proving your identity and address

When you register (or update your information) and vote, you must prove your identity and address.

You have three options to prove your identity and address:

• Option 1:

  Show one piece of government-issued ID

  It must have your photo, name and current address. Example: your driver's licence.

• Option 2:

  Show two pieces of ID

  Both must have your name, and at least one must have your current address. Example: your voter information card and a bank statement.

  Visit elections.ca to see the full list of accepted ID.

• Option 3:

  Declare your identity and address in writing and have somebody vouch for you

  If you don't have accepted ID, you can still vote by declaring your identity and address in writing. Someone who knows you and who is assigned to your polling station will have to vouch for you. This person must be able to prove their identity and address. They can vouch for only one person (except for electors in long-term-care facilities).

Elections Canada accepts the following types of ID:

• Original ID cards and documents, including e-statements and e-invoices
• Documents issued electronically (You can print them or show them on a mobile device.)
• Expired pieces of ID
• Different pieces of ID from the same source if the documents have different purposes (Example: an invoice and a transcript from the same school)
• Your voter information card as proof of address (You'll still need to bring one other piece of ID showing your name.)

Some voters may not be able to prove their address. If you live in or receive services from any of the following places, you can ask a staff member for a letter of confirmation of residence:

• A student residence
• A First Nations band or reserve
• An Inuit local authority
• A seniors' residence
• A long-term care facility
• A shelter or soup kitchen
• A community-based residence

To get a letter of confirmation of residence, contact the establishment as soon as possible after an election is called. It may issue a letter of confirmation on its official letterhead or use the Elections Canada template Letter of Confirmation of Residence available at elections.ca.

You'll need to show a second piece of ID showing your name along with this letter when you register and vote.

Did you know?

Elections Canada is working hard to make the electoral process and voter information materials more accessible to all Canadians. For example, we offer the Guide to the Federal Election and the List of accepted ID in 17 Indigenous languages, as well as more than 30 other languages besides English and French.