Learning about Elections
Detailed materials for teachers and students
When you vote in an election, you help choose a political candidate to represent you in government. You demonstrate your choice by marking your ballot and placing the ballot in a ballot box.
Voting turns the idea of democracy into reality. It is the basis of any free society.
For this reason, we believe it’s never too soon to learn about the voting process. Our educational materials are designed to help you engage and inform yourself and others about Ontario provincial elections—whether you are a teacher, student or community leader.
Voting PowerPoint presentation
We’ve created a PowerPoint presentation that makes it easy to learn about elections. It includes information about Ontario’s provincial electoral process. It also has information about who can vote, how to vote and when to vote.
You can use the presentation to teach educators and group leaders who want to lead discussions about voting. It’s also helpful for individuals who want to learn more about how to vote in an election.
Voter Rights poster
In addition the Voting PowerPoint presentation, we’ve also created a poster that informs you of your rights on voting day. You can use the poster to teach yourself or others about voter rights.
Voting timeline
Use this timeline to learn about elections and democracy in Canada - with a focus on Ontario.
Voters List handout
Use this handout to learn about the Voters List and steps you can take to get on it.
About Elections Ontario handout
Use this handout to learn about Elections Ontario; what we do and how we can help you vote.
Ontario Register of Future Voters handout
This handout explains how 16 and 17 year olds can add their name to the Ontario Register of Future Voters.
Guide to the Ontario Register of Future Voters
Use this guide to learn more about the Ontario Register of Future Voters and what happens when a Future Voter turns 18.
Voting Rules! is the civics education program that Elections Ontario and Elections Canada developed for Grade 5 and 10 teachers in Ontario. The program features lesson plans, activities and clear information on democracy, elections and voting in Ontario and Canada.
The Voting Rules! teacher toolkits are available at no cost in English and French, and in alternate format.
There are two teacher toolkits one for Grade 5 and one for Grade 10. Teachers can pick from a number of lesson plans and choose learning tasks to suit the needs of their classes and students. Each program finishes with the class administering and delivering a mock election.
Grade 5
Grade 10
A new law was passed since the creation of Voting Rules! that enabled Elections Ontario to create the Ontario Register of Future Voters, a register for 16 and 17 year olds who wish to pre-register to vote. Elections Ontario is updating our educational resources. In the meantime, please use the above Addendum to continue using the current Grade 10 edition of Voting Rules!
Elections Ontario is responsible for delivering public education on the electoral process to students who will soon be 18 years of age. Voting in Ontario is a brochure developed by Elections Ontario that describes the electoral process and voter’s rights. These brochures are sent every year to school boards, which distribute them to their students who are turning 18.
Voting in Ontario brochures are available at no cost in English and French, and in alternate format upon request. If you know someone turning 18 and would like to receive a Voting in Ontario brochure, please contact us.
Who can vote?
To vote in an Ontario provincial election, you must be:
- 18 years of age or older on election day, and
- a Canadian citizen, and
- a resident of Ontario
Am I registered to vote?
- With e-Registration, you can easily confirm, update or add your information to the Voters List.
- If you are registered and your registration is up-to-date, you will receive a Voter Information Card informing you of when and where to vote
Which address do I use to register and vote?
- If you live in two places – one while at school, and the other while away from school – you must choose which address you consider home, and use that address to register and vote
- You vote for a political candidate in the electoral district you consider home
When and where can I vote?
- You can vote in a general election or a by-election in your home electoral district
- If you are registered and your registration is up-to-date, you will receive a Voter Information Card informing you of when and where to vote
What ID do I need to vote?
- To vote, you need ID that has your name and the address you consider home
For a printable guide, please click below.
We maintain the Ontario Register of Future Voters for 16 and 17 year old Canadian citizens who reside in Ontario. Information from the Ontario Register of Future Voters is automatically transferred to the Voters List when a person turns 18.
You can add yourself to the Ontario Register of Future Voters using e‑Registration.
Only the applicant can add, update their information or remove themselves from the Ontario Register of Future Voters. We will not accept forms submitted on behalf of another individual, unless they are removing a deceased person from the Ontario Register of Future Voters.
By filling out the form below, you will be added to Elections Ontario's outreach database and occassionaly receive email communications. Your organization will receive free and non-partisan informational packages from Elections Ontario when an election is called in your district. You can opt out of these communications at any time.
Elections Ontario will not share your information with any third parties.