It’s voting day! Here’s everything you need to know in order to vote in the federal election, if you live in British Columbia.

When are polling stations open?

In B.C., polling stations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT.

Where’s my polling station?

On election day, voters can cast their ballots at their assigned polling station.

You can find your assigned station listed on your voter information card or by providing your postal code on the Elections Canada website.

Who can vote?

Anyone who is a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old can vote. However, you must be able to prove your identity and address at the polling station.

What if you have to work?

Canadian law dictates employers must ensure eligible voters have three consecutive hours on voting day to cast their ballot. In B.C., that means if you work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., your employer must either allow you to arrive at work late (10 a.m.), leave work early (4 p.m.) or give you three consecutive hours off during the work day to vote.

Employers are not allowed to reduce your pay when giving you time to vote. There are exceptions for the transport industry.

How do I decide who to vote for?

Well, to start, here’s the Star Vancouver’s overview of what Canada’s political parties say they will do for B.C.

Or use this interactive tool to find out what a political party is promising to do on issues that matter to you.

The choices are all awful. I don’t want to vote for anyone — how do I indicate this on my ballot?

This is called casting a declined ballot. This option is not available for federal elections, although it is for provincial elections in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. If you cast an unmarked ballot this federal election, it will be counted as a spoiled ballot — a category that also includes ballots that were accidentally spoiled.

What do you need to bring to vote?

You need to be able to prove your identity and address at the polling station. You can do this in one of three ways:

1. Bring government-issued photo ID, like a driver’s licence.

2. If you don’t have photo ID, you can bring two pieces of ID instead that show your name, and at least one piece of ID must include your address, such as a phone bill or a bank statement.

3. If you don’t have any identification at all, you can still vote if you declare your identity and address in writing at the polling station, and have someone who lives in your riding vouch for you.

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To see a full list of the types of identification accepted at polling stations, visit the Canadian Elections website.

I voted! I want to take a selfie with my ballot. Am I allowed?

Taking selfies or recording video inside polling stations is not allowed. In fact, it is illegal to take a picture of any marked ballot and post it onto social media. If you want to post a voting-related selfie, Elections Canada recommends taking the photo outside the polling station.

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