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CANADA
House of Commons
ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Electoral system module

Parliament name Parliament of Canada - Parlement du Canada
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name House of Commons
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral Law 1 September 2000
Last updated: 5 October 2013 (Representation Order)
Mode of designation directly elected 338
Constituencies 338 single-member constituencies :
- 121 members from Ontario
- 78 from Québec
- 42 from British Columbia
- 34 from Alberta
- 14 each from Manitoba and Saskatchewan
- 11 from Nova Scotia
- 10 from New Brunswick
- 7 from Newfoundland and Labrador
- 4 from Prince Edward Island
- 1 from the Northwest Territories
- 1 from Nunavut
- 1 from Yukon
Voting system Majority: Simple majority vote (single-member plurality system, first past the post)
A general election must be held on the third Monday in October in the fourth calendar year following polling day for the last general election.
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections.
Voting is not compulsory.
Voter requirements - age: 18
- Canadian citizenship
- residence in Canada; non-residents (except diplomats, armed forces personnel or other government officials abroad) cannot have been absent for more than 5 years
- disqualifications: corrupt or illegal practices, Chief and Assistant Chief Electoral Officer
CANDIDATES
Eligibility - qualified electors
- age: 18
- Canadian citizenship
- residence in Canada; non-residents cannot have been absent for more than five consecutive years
- ineligibilities: electoral fraud, conviction for corrupt or illegal election practices (for five to seven years), for candidates in the previous election, failure to file an election finance report
Incompatibilities - certain public and election officers
- members of provincial legislatures
- judges
Candidacy requirements - the names, addresses and signatures, provided in the presence of a witness, of at least 100 electors resident in the electoral district (50 electors in sparsely populated districts)
- the closing day for nominations is on Monday, the 21st day before polling day.
- mandatory deposit (1,000 Canadian dollars) accompanying the nomination; full amount of deposit is reimbursed if required financial reports are submitted within specified time after election day. Candidates who have obtained at least 10 per cent of the valid votes cast within their electoral districts are entitled to a partial reimbursement of their paid expenses and their paid personal expenses.

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