Polls open across Canada as voting is underway in the 43rd federal election

After a long and often divisive election campaign, voters will now decide on the next federal government.

Polls in B.C. opened at 7 a..m. for 12 hours. Those in line to vote at 7 p.m. will still be able to cast a ballot.

Elections Canada says roughly 27.4 million people are eligible to vote at one of the approximately 20,000 polling places across the country.

While most voters will cast their ballots today, around 4.7 million Canadians did so in advance polls last weekend — a 29 per cent increase over 2015.

If you haven’t received a voter information card (VIC) in the mail — they were sent weeks ago — then you can find your designated polling station by using the postal code search on the Elections Canada website here or call 1-800-463-6868.

On that website, you can also find out who the candidates are in your local riding. Their names — and, if applicable, party affiliation — are listed on the physical ballot you’ll receive from the poll clerk.

Unlike many other countries, Canada allows for same-day voter registration. That means if you aren’t yet registered to vote, you can also do that today at your assigned polling station.

All electors need to have some form of identification — proof of both identity and address — to present when they go to vote. The easiest option is a driver’s licence. You can also bring your VIC and a recent utility bill. A Canadian passport and bank statement will also suffice.

Click here for a full list of ID options that Elections Canada clerks will accept.

Federal party leaders are making last-ditch campaign stops, attending get-out-the-vote events and casting their own ballots in Monday’s election.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau will be voting this morning in his Montreal riding.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer plans to make a campaign stop this morning in Regina, then vote this afternoon.

N-D-P Leader Jagmeet Singh voted at an advance poll and will make an appearance this morning in his riding of Burnaby.

Green Leader Elizabeth May will be voting this morning in Sidney, and standing on street corners there, and in Victoria, to wave at commuters to encourage them to vote.

People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier will be voting this morning in Saint-Georges, Quebec.

With files from CBC and Canadian Press 

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