What you need to know on Election Day

After a bitter 40-day campaign, Canadian voters go to the polls today to decide the winner of an election that pollsters say is too close to call.

An estimated 4.7 million voters jumped the gun, casting ballots in early voting, 29-per-cent more than voted in advance in the last federal election.

Here’s what you need to know if you plan to vote.

Q Can I vote?

A You must be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old on election day.

To check if you are registered on the electoral list, visit Election Canada’s website (elections. ca) or contact the agency by phone at 1-800-463-6868.

If you are not registered, you can do so at the polls on election day. Q When can I vote?

A Poll hours are staggered across the country but everybody will have 12 hours to vote on election day. In Quebec, the hours will be 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Q Am I allowed time off work to vote?

A By law, all voters must have three hours to cast their vote on election day.

“If your hours of work do not allow for three consecutive hours to vote, your employer must give you time off,” Elections Canada says.

Q Where do I vote?

A Elections Canada says all registered voters should have received personalized voter information cards in the mail. They include detailed information about where to vote.

You can also find this information at elections.ca. Type in your postal code and the site will bring up your riding name, local candidates and the address of your polling station.

Q How do I prove my identity?

A To confirm your identity at the polling station, you’ll have three options.

You can:

Show one piece of identification — your driver’s licence or any other card issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial/territorial or local) that features your photo, name and address.

Show two pieces of identification. These can include your voter information card, a bank statement, a utility bill or a student identification card.

Or, if you don’t have identification, you can confirm your identity and address in writing

and get someone else to vouch for you. The person must know you and be registered to vote in your polling station.

Q Where can I get more information? A Visit elections.ca or call the agency at 1-800-463-6868.

Q Has anything changed?

A Ballots have been redesigned to make them easier to read.

New ballots are two inches wider than the old ones and font sizes have been increased.

Q Where can I find results on election night?

A After polling stations close, Elections Canada will post election results on its website as vote tallies arrive from across Canada. Visit the Montreal Gazette’s website — montrealgazette.com — for live coverage and analysis throughout the evening. The major TV networks (CBC, CTV, Global, Radio-Canada, TVA) will have live coverage of results once polls close.