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Canada Vote 2025 - Part I
Apr. 2nd, 2025 08:20 amPart I - History of Voting and Voter Rights
During confederation in 1867, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia joined to create Canada. The rest of the provinces and territories joined Canada between 1870 and 1949. The provinces and territories, formerly British colonies, already had their own legislative assemblies and restrictions on who could vote. For example, in Ontario, only men aged 21 and over who owned property were allowed to vote in 1867 when Canada was formed. In 1885, the country finally created a universal set of rules for federal elections [before then each province had its own laws regarding who could vote in provincial and federal elections]. There were many groups who were excluded from voting at this time, including women, indigenous people, Asian-Canadians, and people with intellectual disabilities. Below is a brief summery of changes to voter’s rights. The document “A History of the Vote in Canada” provides extensive information about the electoral process and voter’s rights. There is so much information that this post barely scratches the surface.
• In 1876, the Indian Act was passed. Indigenous men were allowed to vote, but only if they gave up their Indian status and met the same requirements as other voters [were 21 or older and owned property].
• In 1898, a new law was passed preventing provinces from disqualifying potential voters based on socio-economic status. By this time, most provinces did not require voters to own property.
• During WWI, all men and women in the Armed Forces and relatives of soldiers temporarily got the right to vote. This meant that some women, indigenous people, Asian Canadians, and men under 21 had the right to vote for the first time.
• In 1918, women 21 and over were given the right to vote in federal elections.
• In 1934, Inuit people and indigenous people living on reserves were disqualified from voting, and were not allowed to vote again until 1950.
• In 1948, Asian-Canadians were given the right to vote.
• In 1960, indigenous men and women were finally given the right to vote, no strings attached. However, indigenous women who married a non-indigenous man lost their Indian status and were not allowed to participate in “political and social affairs”, including voting. These women would not be allowed to vote until 1985.
• In 1970, Canadians between the ages of 18-21 were given the right to vote .
• In 1993, people with intellectual disabilities were given the right to vote. It wasn’t until 2000 that elections Canada started making an effort to make voting more accessible, including providing information in large-print and Braille, and promoting a TTY service.
As you can see, many Canadians from marginalized groups were excluded from voting for most of Canada’s history. It took over a hundred years of legislative changes to make voting fair and inclusive.
References
“A History of the Vote in Canada” https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=his&document=toc&lang=e#toc100FullH
“Electoral Insight – Persons with Disabilities and Elections” https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=eim/issue10&document=p4&lang=e
During confederation in 1867, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia joined to create Canada. The rest of the provinces and territories joined Canada between 1870 and 1949. The provinces and territories, formerly British colonies, already had their own legislative assemblies and restrictions on who could vote. For example, in Ontario, only men aged 21 and over who owned property were allowed to vote in 1867 when Canada was formed. In 1885, the country finally created a universal set of rules for federal elections [before then each province had its own laws regarding who could vote in provincial and federal elections]. There were many groups who were excluded from voting at this time, including women, indigenous people, Asian-Canadians, and people with intellectual disabilities. Below is a brief summery of changes to voter’s rights. The document “A History of the Vote in Canada” provides extensive information about the electoral process and voter’s rights. There is so much information that this post barely scratches the surface.
• In 1876, the Indian Act was passed. Indigenous men were allowed to vote, but only if they gave up their Indian status and met the same requirements as other voters [were 21 or older and owned property].
• In 1898, a new law was passed preventing provinces from disqualifying potential voters based on socio-economic status. By this time, most provinces did not require voters to own property.
• During WWI, all men and women in the Armed Forces and relatives of soldiers temporarily got the right to vote. This meant that some women, indigenous people, Asian Canadians, and men under 21 had the right to vote for the first time.
• In 1918, women 21 and over were given the right to vote in federal elections.
• In 1934, Inuit people and indigenous people living on reserves were disqualified from voting, and were not allowed to vote again until 1950.
• In 1948, Asian-Canadians were given the right to vote.
• In 1960, indigenous men and women were finally given the right to vote, no strings attached. However, indigenous women who married a non-indigenous man lost their Indian status and were not allowed to participate in “political and social affairs”, including voting. These women would not be allowed to vote until 1985.
• In 1970, Canadians between the ages of 18-21 were given the right to vote .
• In 1993, people with intellectual disabilities were given the right to vote. It wasn’t until 2000 that elections Canada started making an effort to make voting more accessible, including providing information in large-print and Braille, and promoting a TTY service.
As you can see, many Canadians from marginalized groups were excluded from voting for most of Canada’s history. It took over a hundred years of legislative changes to make voting fair and inclusive.
References
“A History of the Vote in Canada” https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=his&document=toc&lang=e#toc100FullH
“Electoral Insight – Persons with Disabilities and Elections” https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=eim/issue10&document=p4&lang=e
