SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Bill

Bill C-227

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 03, 2022
An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (voting age)
  • Bill C-227 aims to lower the federal voting age in Canada from 18 to 16 years old. The proposed amendments to the Canada Elections Act would redefine the "future elector" as a Canadian citizen who is 14 years of age or older but under 16 years of age. It also states that every person who is a Canadian citizen and is 16 years of age or older on polling day is qualified as an elector. The bill would remove the requirement for electors to be 16 or older for certain provisions, such as being nominated as a candidate or serving as an election officer. The purpose of this bill is to expand the voting rights of young Canadians by allowing them to participate in the electoral process at an earlier age.
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First Session, Forty-fourth Parliament,
70 Elizabeth II, 2021-2022
HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
BILL C-227
An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (voting age)
FIRST READING, February 3, 2022
Mr. Davies
441049


SUMMARY

This enactment amends the Canada Elections Act to lower the federal voting age in Canada from 18 to 16 years of age.
Available on the House of Commons website at the following address:
www.ourcommons.ca


1st Session, 44th Parliament,
70 Elizabeth II, 2021-2022
HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
BILL C-227
An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (voting age)
Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
2000, c. 9

Canada Elections Act

1 The definition future elector in subsection 2(1) of the Canada Elections Act is replaced by the following:
future elector means a Canadian citizen who is 14 years of age or older but under Insertion start 16 Insertion end years of age. (futur électeur)
2 Section 3 of the Act is replaced by the following:
Persons qualified as electors
3 Every person who is a Canadian citizen and is Insertion start 16 Insertion end years of age or older on polling day is qualified as an elector.
3 Subsection 22(5) of the Act is repealed.
4 (1) Subparagraph 281.‍3(a)‍(ii) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(ii) is not Insertion start 16 Insertion end years of age or older — or will not be Insertion start 16 Insertion end years of age or older — on polling day; or
(2) Subparagraph 281.‍3(b)‍(ii) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(ii) is not Insertion start 16 Insertion end years of age or older — or will not be Insertion start 16 Insertion end years of age or older — on polling day.
5 Paragraph 549.‍1(1)‍(b) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(b) the elector is Insertion start 16 Insertion end years of age or older or will be Insertion start 16 Insertion end years of age or older on polling day;
Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons