ID to vote in provincial elections
Provincial by-elections have been called for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex and Milton. Election day is May 2. Use Voter Registration to update or add your voter information by April 22. Voter information cards will be mailed out between April 16 to 19. Your voter information card will contain information about when and where to vote.
ID is required to vote in a provincial election.
Photo ID is not required when you go to vote. If you choose to provide photo ID, your appearance does not need to match the photo. You do not need to provide any information about your sex or gender expression when you go to vote.
ID can be shown on a mobile device. International ID or permanent resident cards are not accepted.
Provincial by-elections have been called for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex and Milton. Election day is May 2.
If you are on the Register, you will receive a voter information card (VIC) in the mail about when and where to vote. You must bring your VIC and one piece of ID showing your name to receive a ballot when you go to vote.
You can still vote if you do not receive a VIC, but your name may not be on the Register. You must bring one piece of ID showing both your name and home address to register and receive a ballot.
Only eligible voters can vote in provincial elections. To be eligible to vote, you must be:
- 18 years of age or older;
- a Canadian citizen; and
- a resident of Ontario.
Use Voter Registration to confirm, update, add or remove your voter information. Alternatively, you can complete paper application forms.
To vote:
- You must provide ID to receive a ballot. You may use an electronic copy of your ID, which may be printed or displayed on a mobile device.
- Photo ID is not required. If you choose to show photo ID, your appearance does not need to match the photo.
- You do not need to provide any information about your sex or gender expression.
- International ID or permanent resident cards are not accepted.
ID includes most documents issued by the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario or a municipality in Ontario. Find examples of accepted ID below.
Government-issued
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Ontario health card
- Canadian Armed Forces ID card (NDI 20)
- Canadian passport
- Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
- Certificate of Indian Status (Status card)
- Certificate of Naturalization (issued before January 1, 1947)
- Citizenship card
- Firearms licence
- Nexus/FAST (Free and Secure Trade) card
- Old Age Security identification card
- Social Insurance Number confirmation letter
- Registration of birth abroad (issued between January 1, 1947 and February 14, 1977)
- Veteran Affairs Canada Health Care Identification card
- Veteran's Service Card (NDI 75)
- Birth Certificate from a Canadian province or territory
Other
- Blood donor card
- Credit/debit card
- Diplomatic or special passport
- Employee card
- Hospital records (including hospital bracelets)
- Union card or professional licence
- Student card
- A document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada) showing a person’s name
- Any document showing your name issued by:
- the Government of Canada
- the Government of Ontario
- a municipality
- a government agency
- Any document from the list below
Government-issued
- Ontario driver’s licence
- Ontario motor vehicle permit (plate or vehicle portion)
- Ontario photo card
- Property assessment notice from Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
- Child tax benefit statement
- Income tax notice of assessment
- Social Insurance Number confirmation letter
- Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid T4E
- Statement of Old Age Security T4A (OAS)
- Any document showing both your name and home address issued by the Government of Canada/Ontario
Educational or financial
- School admission letter
- School transcript or report card
- Tuition/fees statement
- Bank account or credit card statement
- Cancelled personalized cheque
- Cheque stub, pay receipt or T4 issued by a person's employer
- Insurance statement
- Residential mortgage, lease, or rental statement
- Signed loan or financial agreement with a financial institution
- Document showing campus residence issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution
Other
- CNIB card or card from another registered charitable organization that provides services to persons with disabilities
- Hospital records showing a person’s name and home address
- Letter of Confirmation of Residence
- Utility bill (hydro, water, gas, telephone, cable TV, public utilities commission)
- Property tax assessment or bill from a municipality in Ontario
- Any other document showing both your name and home address issued by:
- a municipality
- a government agency
- or certified by a court in Ontario
- a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada)
Provincial by-elections have been called for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex and Milton. Election day is May 2.
Eligible voters who choose to vote by mail must submit a vote by mail application and provide ID showing both their:
- name AND
- home address in Ontario.
To be eligible to vote, you must be:
- 18 years of age or older;
- a Canadian citizen; and
- a resident of Ontario.
Find examples of accepted ID to vote by mail below.
Government-issued (name and home address)
- Ontario driver’s licence
- Ontario photo card
- Ontario motor vehicle permit (plate or vehicle portion)
- Property assessment notice from Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
- Property tax assessment or bill from a municipality in Ontario
- Child tax benefit statement
- Income tax notice of assessment
- Social Insurance Number confirmation letter
- Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid T4E
- Statement of Old Age Security T4A (OAS)
- Any other document from the Government of Canada/Ontario or its agency showing a person’s name and home address
- Document issued or certified by a court in Ontario showing a person’s name and home address
OR
Example of ID needed to vote by mail
Government-issued (name)
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Ontario health card
- Canadian Armed Forces ID card
- Canadian passport
- Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
- Certificate of Indian Status (Status card)
- Certificate of Naturalization (issued before January 1, 1947)
- Citizenship card
- Firearms licence
- Nexus/FAST (Free and Secure Trade) card
- Old Age Security card
- Social Insurance Number card
- Registration of birth abroad (issued between January 1, 1947 and February 14, 1977)
- Veteran Affairs Canada Health Care Identification card
- Veteran's Service card (NDI 75)
- Birth certificate from a Canadian province or territory
- Diplomatic or special passport
- Any other document from the Government of Canada/Ontario or its agency showing a person’s name and home address
AND
Non government-issued (name and home address)
- Document showing campus residence issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution
- School admission letter
- School transcript or report card
- Tuition/fees statement
- Bank account or credit card statement
- Cancelled personalized cheque
- Cheque stub, pay receipt or T4 issued by a person's employer
- Insurance statement
- Residential mortgage, lease, or rental statement
- Signed loan or financial agreement with a financial institution
- CNIB card or card from another registered charitable organization that provides services to persons with disabilities
- Hospital records showing a person’s name and home address
- Letter of Confirmation of Residence
- Utility bill (hydro, water, gas, telephone, cable TV, public utilities commission)
- Document from a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada) showing a person’s name and home address