Elections Canada: Canadians Can Vote by Mail

- Any Canadian elector can vote by mail or at an Elections Canada office by special ballot.

- Applications are available at www.elections.ca, by phone or in person at Elections Canada offices and Canadian diplomatic missions.

- Applications must be received by Elections Canada by 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, October 7, 2008. Electors are encouraged to fax their applications or take them to an Elections Canada office.

- Once an application is approved, the elector is issued a voting kit with full instructions and a special ballot. The ballot must be received at Elections Canada in Ottawa no later than 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on election day. Electors voting by mail or in person by special ballot in their own riding must return the special ballot to the returning officer before the local polling station closes.

"Canadians have the option of voting anytime, from anywhere during an election by using a mail-in ballot. You can pick up a vote by mail kit at your local Elections Canada office, request one by phone, or simply download an application form from our Web site," says Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand.

Elections Canada is an independent body set up by Parliament.

www.elections.ca