Absentee Voting
You can vote in a Manitoba election from anywhere in the world if you qualify as an absentee voter.
You can be an absentee voter if you are a qualified
voter, and you expect:
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to be outside Manitoba on advance voting days and on election day
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to be inside Manitoba but at a location significantly distant from any advance voting place and from your regular voting place on election day
Who should apply?
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snowbirds
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business and vacation travellers
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military
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re-located workers
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those in remote areas
Am I qualified?
To be a qualified absentee voter, you must:
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be a Canadian citizen
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be 18 years of age on or before election day
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have resided in Manitoba for at least six months immediately before election day*
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intend to be away for no more than six months
*Special circumstances
The following individuals can still vote even if they have been away longer than six months, as long as they intend to return to live in Manitoba:
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Canadian Forces
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Students attending school outside Manitoba - Special Information for Post-secondary Students
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Individuals working with the Manitoba or Canadian government
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Anyone living with any of the above
When do I apply?
Before an election is called, and if you will be away for at least a month, you can submit an application to Elections Manitoba. Your name will be placed on the Absentee Voters registry, and forwarded to your returning officer when an election is called. The returning officer will then send you an absentee ballot, a list of candidates and instructions.
After an election is called, apply to the returning officer in your home electoral division. Or go to any returning office in Manitoba and have your application and copies of your identification sent to the returning officer in your electoral division. Addresses for returning offices will be published in local newspapers, on this website, or can be obtained by contacting us. The returning officer will then send you an absentee ballot, a list of candidates and instructions.
How do I apply?
Download the application form (PDF), then apply in person, by mail or fax an application and copies of the required identification.
Required identification
Legible copies of government issued photo identification, such as a driver's licence, or two documents that together confirm your identity.
Important dates
The second Friday before election day
Try to apply before this date. Otherwise, you might not get the absentee ballot in time to
return it. If you apply after this date, you might want to pay for faster delivery service. If
uncertain, talk to your returning officer.
The Saturday before election day
The returning officer cannot accept an application after this date.
8 p.m. on election day
The deadline for returning ballots to the returning officer.