In 2019, Canada changed its voting rules for citizens living abroad. It used to be that if you had lived outside of the country for five years or longer you were ineligible to vote. But that is no longer the case.
Now you can register to vote if you have lived in Canada at any point in your life, regardless of how long you've lived outside of Canada.
Somehow or other Trudeau was prime minister for ten years, which means this law came into being during his term (terms aren't fixed, but are at the pleasure of His Majesty (King Charles)...and, technically, I would say the people as well, because a vote of no confidence can be called quite easily compared to just having to sit around for four years...or more...). I didn't vote for Trudeau in 2015 (could not have voted for him—believe me...I checked), so I was surprised when I checked the voting laws again today (just to make sure—because you never known when you'll wake up to find yourself enfranchised...) and found that I could vote in the upcoming election.
Did I register to vote today?
Absolutely I did.
Did I tell my Canadian-abroad family members to register to vote as well?
Absolutely I did.
I am awaiting my ballot, brimming with excitement.
cool!
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