Vote 16 Act

The Vote 16 Act is a Senate bill that would lower the voting age in Canada from 18 to 16. It amends the Canada Elections Act so that any Canadian citizen who is 16 or older on polling day qualifies as an elector, and it makes the same change to the separate regulation that governs referendum voting. Because the voting age is being lowered, the bill also redefines "future elector" (a status used for young people who can pre-register to vote) to cover citizens aged 14 or 15, instead of the current 14-to-17 range.

The bill also updates several related rules that currently reference age 18, so they line up with the new age 16 threshold: the rules on who can be prosecuted for voting or inducing someone to vote while under age, the rules on identifying donors at political fundraising events, and the sworn declaration form electors use to prove they are eligible to vote. It also removes a now-unnecessary provision about election officers being allowed to work below age 18, since 16 will now be the standard threshold anyway.

Finally, the bill does not take effect immediately. It comes into force six months after it receives royal assent, unless Canada's Chief Electoral Officer announces earlier that the necessary preparations have been completed, in which case it can come into force sooner.

This bill lowers the minimum voting age in federal elections and referendums from 18 to 16 by amending the Canada Elections Act and the Regulation Adapting the Canada Elections Act for the Purposes of a Referendum.

• Voter eligibility — Any Canadian citizen who is 16 years of age or older on polling day qualifies as an elector in federal elections and referendums, replacing the previous threshold of 18.
• Future elector definition — The category of "future elector" (used for pre-registration purposes) is narrowed to citizens aged 14 or 15, down from the former range of 14 to 17.
• Election offences updated — Provisions prohibiting voting or inducing others to vote while under the legal age are amended so the threshold for these offences becomes 16 rather than 18.
• Fundraising disclosure rules — Political parties reporting on regulated fundraising events must withhold identifying details for attendees under 16 (previously under 18), narrowing the pool of minors whose information is protected from disclosure.
• Identity declaration forms — The prescribed solemn declaration form used to prove elector status is updated so electors attest to being 16 or older, rather than 18 or older.
• Coming into force — The Act takes effect six months after royal assent, unless the Chief Electoral Officer publishes an earlier notice in the Canada Gazette confirming that preparations for implementation are complete, allowing the Chief Electoral Officer discretion over the exact timing within that window.