Monday is election day and whether you’re not sure where to vote, who to vote for or what a minority government is — we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list we compiled of frequently asked questions for first-time voters and voters who’ve forgotten how it’s done over the years.

How do I register to vote?

You can register to vote online using the Voter Registration Service, or by calling 1-800-463-6868. You can also register in-person or update your personal information at your polling station on election day.

Who gets to vote?

You can vote in a federal election if you are a Canadian citizen aged 18 or older on election day while providing valid proof of identity and your address.

What is my riding?

Your riding is the geographical area represented by a member of Parliament and is where your home address is based. You can find your riding through the search options on the Elections Canada website, which allow you to locate your riding through your postal code, by browsing maps and through the name of your local candidates.

Where do I vote? How do I find my polling station?

You can locate the nearest polling station in your riding on the Elections Canada website. By entering your postal code, the website will redirect you to the nearest polling station — likely a school or community centre.

How can I find out who is running in my riding?

You can find out which candidates are running in your riding on the Elections Canada website by entering your postal code and clicking on the “Who are my candidates?” option. You can also look up candidate profiles on the Star’s website by entering your postal code by the interactive map.

When do the polls open and close?

Polling stations are open for 12 hours across Canada and the timings are staggered so that results can come in at approximately the same time. For the Newfoundland, Atlantic and Central time zones, polls are open from 8:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. In Eastern time zones, polls open at 9:30 a.m. and close at 9:30 p.m. and in Mountain and Pacific time zones, polls open at 7:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.

If an electoral district spans more than one time zone, the returning officer, with the prior approval of the chief electoral officer, will determine one local time for voting throughout the district. The correct voting hours for electoral districts will be available on the Elections Canada website under the “Where do I vote?” tab.

Do I get time off work to vote?

By law, everyone who is eligible to vote must have three consecutive hours to cast their vote on election day. If your hours of work do not allow for three consecutive hours to vote, your employer must give you time off to either leave work to vote or adjust your hours.

Your employer has the right to decide when the time off will be given. This rule does not apply to people working in the transportation industry under these exceptions.

What ID do I need to bring?

To vote you must bring either your driver’s licence or any other form of government ID with your photo, name and current address. If you don’t have a driver’s licence you must bring a voter information card or an ID card with your photo along with a bill or bank statement with your address on it. Here is a list of accepted ID to prove your identity.

If you don’t have any ID you can declare your identity and address in writing and have someone who knows you and who is assigned to your polling station vouch for you.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

What do I do if I didn’t receive a voter card in the mail?

If you did not receive a card it may mean you aren’t registered in the National Register of Electors. You can register in-person on election day or online here.

When do we learn the election results?

Results will be announced on the Star’s Twitter account here.

Why can’t I vote for Jagmeet Singh/Justin Trudeau/Andrew Scheer/Elizabeth May/Maxime Bernier?

You can only vote for party leaders if you live in the riding they’re running for. Instead you’ll be voting for your riding’s member of Parliament candidates.

Where can I find the party platforms?

You can find information on each of the party’s platforms in the Star’s election primer here. More information on party specifics can be found on the party websites.

How many ridings does Canada have?

Canada has 338 ridings or federal electoral districts.

How many seats does one party need to win to form a majority government?

A majority government is formed if one party has 170 seats in the House of Commons. If no party has enough seats to command a majority, then there will be a minority parliament.

In the situation of a minority government, read the Star’s explainer here.

Raneem Alozzi is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @r_alozzi

Read more about: