Voting 101 The who, what, where, when and how of casting a ballot in Manitoba's provincial election By: Free Press staff Posted: 3:45 PM CDT Tuesday, Sep. 5, 2023

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/09/2023 (1090 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s 43rd general election will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.

Manitoba has 57 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), one to represent the people in each of 57 geographic areas of the province. Voters choose which candidate will become their area’s MLA.

Manitobans do not vote directly to determine who becomes premier. Before an election, each political party chooses a leader. The leader of the political party that has the most candidates elected becomes premier.

Who can vote?

To be eligible to vote, you must:

• Be a Canadian citizen;
• Be at least 18 years old on Oct. 3; and
• Have lived in Manitoba since at least April 3, 2023.

Voter registration

Voting is faster and easier if you are registered before the election.  (But you can still register on election day; more on that below.)

If you are already a registered voter, you will receive a card in the mail telling you when and where to vote on election day and in advance voting.

Elections Manitoba regularly receives information from Elections Canada, Manitoba Public Insurance, Manitoba Health and Vital Stats, so it can keep the list up to date when people turn 18, become Canadian citizens, etc. — so even if you have not formally registered at your current address, you might already be on the list.

The cards are mailed starting Sept. 5. You can check to see if you’re already registered on the Elections Manitoba website. Enter your name, birth date and address, and Elections Manitoba will see if you’re on the list.

I’m not registered!

If you’re not on the list or if the registration information is incorrect — for example, you moved or changed your name — you can register or update your information until Sept. 14. You’ll need to scan and upload pictures of your identification; here’s what types of ID can be used.

If you can’t scan your identification, you can still register to vote at your local election office. To find out where that is, put your address in this form on Elections Manitoba’s website. It will show information about who your candidates are, polling locations and the “local election office.”  Call or email the local election office for information about how to register.

If you register or update your registration before Sept. 14, a voter card will be mailed to you on Sept. 14. Take the card and identification with you when you go to vote. (More on that below.)

When do I vote?

During advance polling: Saturday, Sept. 23 to Saturday, Sept. 30, you can vote at any advance poll in the province.

Advance polls are generally open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, though some exceptions apply.

On election day: Vote on Tuesday, Oct. 3, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., at any polling place in your electoral division.

You can enter your address on Election Manitoba’s website to find advance polls close to you, and your polling place for election day.

How do I vote?

Go to a polling place. You can enter your address on Election Manitoba’s website to find advance polls close to you, and your polling place for election day.

Take identification; here’s what types of ID can be used.

Show your identification and your voters card, if you brought one, to election officials.  They’ll give you a ballot in a “secrecy sleeve.”

Take your ballot behind the screen and fill in the name of the candidate of your choice.  If you need assistance, an election official can help you or you can take someone with you to help.

Put your ballot back in the “secrecy sleeve” and give it to the election official at the ballot box. He or she will put your ballot in the box or vote-counting machine.

If you don’t have identification but you are on the voters list: You can still vote on election day (but not in an advance polls). A registered voter in your electoral division who has acceptable ID can vouch for you. The person signs an oath affirming your identity.

Vouching is acceptable only if you are on the voter’s list, and a voter can only vouch for one other voter.

If you’re not on the voters list but you have acceptable ID: You can still vote. You’ll take an oath confirming your identity. If none of your ID shows your address, you’ll also have to sign a declaration of address.

I’m not in Manitoba to vote!

Are you a snowbird? Canadian Armed Forces member? Temporarily studying or working far from home?

If you expect to be outside Manitoba Sept. 23 to 30 and on Oct. 3 — or if you’ll be in Manitoba but far away from advance or regular polling places — you can vote with an absentee ballot.

Apply on Election Manitoba’s website or at your local election office. You can also fill out this form and mail it.

Absentee ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Oct. 3, 2023.

Elections Manitoba suggests you apply before Sept. 22, otherwise you might not receive the ballot in time to return it. If you apply after Sept. 22, you might need to pay for faster delivery service for your ballot to arrive by Oct. 3.

Local election offices cannot accept applications for absentee ballots after Sept. 30.