S-201An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Regulation Adapting the Canada Elections Act for the Purposes of a Referendum (voting age)
Senate public bill, introduced in the Senate on November 24, 2021
- Status
- Defeated at second reading in the Senate
- Sponsor
- Marilou McPhedranSenator
- Senator
What it does
Lowers the voting age in federal elections and referendums from 18 to 16, and updates related rules to match.
What it does
- Lowers the voting age for Canadian citizens in federal elections from 18 to 16.
- Changes the definition of “future elector” to mean a Canadian citizen who is 14 or 15 years old.
- Removes the rule that election officers appointed under section 32 may be under 18 but must be at least 16.
- Updates election offence and declaration rules so they refer to people who are under 16, not under 18.
- Applies the same 16-year-old voting age to referendums under the related regulation.
- Sets the law to start six months after royal assent, unless the Chief Electoral Officer says sooner that preparations are ready.
Who it affects
- Canadian citizens aged 16 and 17
- Canadian citizens aged 14 and 15
- Election officers
- Registered political parties
- Chief Electoral Officer
Topics
Background
The bill amends the Canada Elections Act and a related referendum regulation.
Where it is
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Defeated here. Defeated
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
House of Commons
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by a senator. If the Senate passes it, it goes to the House of Commons, where an MP must agree to sponsor it. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At second reading in the Senate. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.