What problem are we trying to solve?

Millions of Canadians live abroad, yet almost none of them vote. Their experience could make Canada stronger, if their voices were heard.

0.93%

of Canadians abroad voted in 2021

7.80%

of Americans abroad voted in 2020

Overseas Americans outvote overseas Canadians by about 8 to 1.

Untapped potential

Canadians abroad bring experience from every corner of the world. Higher turnout among them would strengthen Canadian democracy.

More than a dozen countries go further and let citizens abroad elect their own Members of Parliament. Canada could do the same.

Voting also strengthens the bond between Canada and its citizens abroad, and with it Canadian society as a whole.

Latest figures

In the 2025 federal election, Elections Canada issued 101,690 voting kits to electors abroad. Only 57,440 ballots were returned in time and counted, about 2% of an estimated 2.9 million eligible voters abroad.

In the 2024 US election, about 11% of Americans abroad voted, roughly six times the Canadian rate.

Canada and the USA compared

Estimate	Canada	USA
Population	38,000,000 ^a	–
Citizens	33,100,000 ^b	331,400,000 ^c
Residents eligible to vote	27,366,297 ^d	214,000,000 ^e
Share of residents eligible to vote	72%	64.57%
Turnout among residents	62.5% ^f	66.8% ^g
Citizens living abroad	4,000,000 ^h	4,400,000 ⁱ
Of these, eligible to vote	2,880,000*	2,800,000 ^j
Voters abroad	27,000 ^k	218,400 ^l
Turnout abroad	0.93%	7.80% ^m

Canada: 2021 federal election. USA: 2020 presidential election. * Assuming 72% of Canadians abroad are eligible, as among residents.

Vote. And register early.

Don't wait until an election is called. By then it may be too late for your ballot to arrive in time.

What problem are we trying to solve?

Untapped potential

Canada and the USA compared

Vote. And register early.

Sources