ID & documentation to register as an absentee voter

To update, add or remove your information from the Register of Absentee Voters, you must provide one piece of ID showing both your name and last home address before leaving Ontario.

Search the Register of Absentee Voters to confirm, update, add or remove your information. Alternatively, you can complete a paper application form.

ID includes most documents issued by the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario or a municipality in Ontario.

Examples of accepted ID to update, add or remove your information from the Register of Absentee Voters

Government-issued

Ontario driver’s licence
Ontario photo card
Statement of Old Age Security T4A (OAS)
Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid T4E
Income tax notice of assessment
Ontario motor vehicle permit (plate or vehicle portion)
Property assessment notice from Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC)
Child tax benefit statement
Social Insurance Number confirmation letter
Any other document showing both your name and home address issued by:
- the Government of Canada
- the Government of Ontario

Educational or Financial

School admission letter
School transcript or report card
School tuition/fees statement
Bank account or credit card statement
Residential mortgage, lease or rental statement
Cancelled personalized cheque
Cheque stub, pay receipt or T4 issued by a person’s employer
Insurance statement
Signed loan or financial agreement with a financial institution
Document showing campus residence issued by the office or officials responsible for student residence at a post-secondary institution

Other

Utility bill (hydro, water, gas, telephone, cable TV, public utilities commission)
Hospital records showing a person’s name and home address
CNIB card or card from another registered charitable organization that provides services to persons with disabilities
Letter of Confirmation of Residence
Property tax assessment or bill from a municipality in Ontario
Any other document showing both your name and home address issued by:
- a municipality
- a government agency
- or certified by a court in Ontario
- a Band Council in Ontario established under the Indian Act (Canada)

You will also need to provide proof of occupation or educational attendance if you are applying to be an absentee elector as one of the following:

an active-duty member in the service of the armed forces of Canada;
an employee in the service of the Government of Ontario;
an employee in the service of the Government of Canada and absent from Canada;
person attending an educational institution; or
as a family member of one of the above.

Examples of accepted documents showing occupational status or educational attendance

Active duty member of the Canadian Armed Forces

Canadian Armed Forces ID card (NDI 20)
Temporary ID card (NDI 10)
Any other document from the Canadian Armed Forces proving active service

Employee of the Government Canada/Ontario

Employment confirmation letter
Government identification card
Photocopy of diplomatic or special passport
RCMP service identification
Any other document from the Government of Canada/Ontario, or its agency proving a person’s employment

Attending an educational institution

Official enrollment letter or acceptance letter
Photocopy of student card (with valid date/year)
Photocopy of course registration, transcript, report card or class schedule
Tuition or fees statement, invoice or receipt

To change your legal name, including the use of a spouse or partner’s name, you must provide the following two pieces of ID:

A marriage certificate or a change of name certificate issued by a provincial/territorial registrar AND one piece of ID showing your current name and home address;

One piece of ID showing your previous name and home address AND one piece of ID showing your current name and home address.