1. Electoral Structure: Canada follows a federal parliamentary democracy. The country is divided into 338 electoral districts, also known as ridings, and elections are held at the national level to elect representatives to the House of Commons, which is the lower house of the Parliament of Canada.
2. House of Commons: The House of Commons is composed of Members of Parliament (MPs) who represent each electoral district. The number of seats allocated to each province and territory is determined by its population size, with some constitutional provisions ensuring a minimum number of seats for certain provinces.
3. Voting System: Canada uses a first-past-the-post (FPTP) voting system. Under this system, voters in each electoral district choose one candidate, and the candidate with the most votes wins the seat. This can lead to a discrepancy between the share of the popular vote a party receives and the number of seats they secure in the House of Commons.
4. Federal Parties: The major political parties in Canada include the Liberal Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party (NDP), Bloc Québécois, and the Green Party. Other smaller parties may also field candidates in elections.
5. Election Timing: The Governor General, who represents the British monarch as Canada’s head of state, has the authority to dissolve Parliament and call for new elections. The term for the House of Commons is typically four years, but the Prime Minister can request the dissolution of Parliament before the end of the term, leading to early elections.
6. Elections Canada: Elections Canada is an independent agency responsible for the administration and oversight of federal elections. It manages the voter registration process, conducts elections, enforces electoral laws, and promotes public awareness of the electoral process.
7. Voter Eligibility: To be eligible to vote in federal elections, a person must be a Canadian citizen aged 18 or older on election day. Voters must register before the election or can register at the polling station on election day.
