CHAPTER 6 · STUDY GUIDE
Federal Elections in Canada
Understand voting, electoral districts, Members of Parliament and how federal elections work.
Practice this chapter →Who represents Canadians?
Canada is divided into federal electoral districts, often called ridings. Each district elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons. Canadians choose among candidates, and the candidate who receives the most votes in a riding wins that seat.
Voting in a federal election
Canadian citizens who meet the legal requirements can vote in federal elections. Elections Canada administers federal elections and provides information to voters. The secret ballot protects voters by allowing them to cast their vote privately.
Political parties
Political parties bring together people who share political ideas and goals. During an election campaign, parties and independent candidates present their platforms and ask voters for support. After the election, the party with the most seats may form the government, but the composition of the House of Commons determines whether the government has a majority or minority.
First-past-the-post
Federal elections use a single-member plurality system commonly known as first-past-the-post. In each electoral district, the candidate with the most votes wins the seat. A party's number of seats in the House of Commons is therefore based on the results across individual districts.
What to remember for the test
- Each federal electoral district elects one MP.
- The secret ballot keeps a voter's choice private.
- Elections Canada administers federal elections.
- The candidate with the most votes in a riding wins that seat.
- The party with the most seats does not necessarily receive more than half of all votes cast nationally.