About the Canadian Election
Canada's Liberal Party, until last month under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has led the country's government since 2014. The next election had to be held prior to September of this year. For almost three years before Trudeau's resignation last month, Liberals trailed the Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre. Following Trudeau's resignation and the subsequent change in Liberal party leadership, combined with tensions with the U.S., the Liberals saw a surge in polling. Subsequently, new Prime Minister Mark Carney called for this snap election last month. last month.
In each of the 343 ridings, voters select one representative and the candidate receiving the most votes becomes the member of Parliament (MP) for that riding. Across the ridings, the party with the most MPs forms the government (with or without a majority).
The winning party will then select its Prime Minister; the position is not directly elected. According to Canadian law, the Prime Minister does not have to be a member of Parliament and this election will be the first of any type for Carney.
Canadian citizens at least 18 years of age who have not already cast their ballots in person or by mail will have until this evening (9:30 p.m. Eastern in most areas) to vote in person. All votes sent by mail, including from members of the Canadian Forces and citizens living abroad, must be received by 6 p.m. Eastern time.
Preliminary results begin reporting in each riding at the close of polls.
Projected Seats By Party
Decision Desk HQ will be providing a projection of the number of seats each party will receive once sufficient partial results are available. The projection will continue to update as additional votes are released. All projections are via The Canadian Press.